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Plasma progesterone analysis by a time-resolved fluorescent antibody test to monitor estrous cycles in goats

Barbara Baszczyk¹, Tomasz Stankiewicz, Jan Udaa and Dariusz Gczarzewicz

Correspondence: ¹Corresponding Author: Barbara Baszczyk, Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Biotechnology and Animal Breeding, University of Agriculture in Szczecin, 6 Doktora Judyma Street, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland. barbara.blaszczyk{at}biot.ar.szczecin.pl

The objective of the current study was to evaluate whether blood plasma progesterone (P₄) measurements with a time-resolved fluorescent antibody test (TR-FAT) kit designed for humans was applicable for goats. The first experiment was designed to verify whether the concentrations of P₄ measured by TR-FAT can be used to monitor the estrous and ovarian activity in goats (n = 14). Blood samples (322) were collected, and the ovaries were scanned using ultrasonography. The second experiment was carried out on 4 goats (60 samples) and designed to compare the TR-FAT with radioimmunoassay (RIA). The time interval between the lowest concentrations of P₄ assayed by TR-FAT was 21 ± 0.3 days and did not differ significantly from the length of the interestrous interval. The highest concentrations of P₄ were confirmed by detection of corpus luteum. During estrus, the mean concentration did not differ significantly between both methods. Significant differences were present during the luteal phases; however, the profiles of P₄ assayed by both methods followed a similar pattern. Regression analysis showed a correlation between the 2 methods (r = 0.98; r² = 0.96; P < 0.0001). The Bland-Altman plot showed that all averages were within the 95% limits of agreement; however, the differences between both methods tend to be greater as the average increases. The results demonstrated that the TR-FAT method can be applied to monitor estrous cycles in goats through measurements of plasma P₄ concentrations. Moreover, not only does the TR-FAT meet the requirements for safety, but it is also a method of high throughput, rapidity, and simplicity.

Key Words: Corpus luteum • estrous cycle • goats • plasma progesterone • time-resolved fluorescent antibody test • radioimmunoassay • ultrasonography