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Current IssueEditorial BoardOnline First ArticlesArchive

Research Article

volume 52 issue 3 (march 2018) : 388-391,   Doi: 10.18805/ijar.B-559

Biometric analysis of testicles of the Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) and Bangweulu lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani) in Zambia
 

V
Victor Chisha Zulu
A
Alfred Malenga Mwanza
M
Mitsutoshi Yoshida
M
Michelo Syakalima
J
Jun Yasuda
1School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical studies, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Cite article:- Zulu Chisha Victor, Mwanza Malenga Alfred, Yoshida Mitsutoshi, Syakalima Michelo, Yasuda Jun (2018). Biometric analysis of testicles of the Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) and Bangweulu lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani) in Zambia. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 52(3): 388-391. doi: 10.18805/ijar.B-559.

ABSTRACT

The Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) is a unique antelope found only in the Kafue basin of Zambia and is the main source of local income and protein. Its population has been dwindling over the years supposedly due to poaching and environmental pollution in the area and without mention of reproductive causes. The present study was a pilot study which determined biometric measurements of the testicles in adult lechwes as measures of reproductive ability and fertility. Testicles from 24 Kafue and 24 Bangweulu lechwes were examined from August to October 2009. The measurements were taken using Calipers, a ruler and string for testicular length, width, height, head size, body and tail of the epididymis. All testicular parameters were significantly higher in the Kafue than the Bangweulu lechwe. The study also found cases of cryptorchidism and abnormal epididymis in the Kafue and Bangweulu lechwes, respectively. The testicular parameters were measured during the non-breeding season thus influence of breeding on testicular biometry is expected. This was the first study of its kind and further studies on the reproductive physiology and biology are required to understand various causes of reductions in population and thereby aid the conservation of this species.

REFERENCES

  1. Bell, R.H.V, Grimsdell, J.R, Van Lavieren, L.P, and Sayer, J. (1973). Census of the Kafue lechwe. East African Wildlife Journal 11: 55-74.
  2. Cribb, N.C, Boure, L.P. (2010). Laparoscopic removal of a large abdominal testicular teratoma in a standing horse. Veterinary Surgery 39: 131-135. 
  3. Derar, D.R, Hussein, H.A, Hussein, A.A. (2012). Reference values for the genitalia of male dromedary before and after puberty using caliper and ultrasonography in subtropics. Theriogenology 77: 459-465.
  4. Howard, G.W, Jeffery, R.C.V. (1987). Kafue lechwe population census, .In: Report to National parks and Wildlife Services, Nov. 1987; Chilanga, Lusaka, Zambia.
  5. Khan, H.R, Muhammad M, Mehmood, M. U., Shahzad, Q., Gohar, A, Alam, M, Ali, Q., Kumbar, H.K. (2014). Biometric Assessment of the Testis in Pakistani Adult Male Goats (Capra hircus). Pakistan Journal of Zoology 46: 880.
  6. Little, S. (2011). Feline reproduction: Problems and Clinical Challenges. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 13:874-875.
  7. Luz, P.A.C, Santos, P.R.S, Andrighetto, C., Jorge, A.M., Neto, A.C. (2013).The Correlation between Age, Body Weight and Testicular Parameters in Murrah Buffalo Bulls Raised in Brazil. Journal of Reproductive Development 59: 14–17.
  8. Matsukawa, K., Yoshima, M., Yoshida, M. (1995). Orchiepididymitis due to Brucella in a Kafue lechwe. In: Proceedings of the syrnposium on the effect of enlargement of domestic animal pasture on the wildlife in Zambia. 22nd March 1995; Lusaka, Zambia. pp 123-125.
  9. Pandey, G.S., Mweene, A., Suzuki, A.K., Nambota, A., Kaji, T. (1994). Dermatophilosis (Cutaneous streptothricosis) in Kafue lechwe (Kobus Leche kafuensis). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 30: 587-588.
  10. Ras, A., Rapacz, A., Ras-Norynska, M., Janowsky, T.E. (2010). Clinical, Hormonal and Ultrasonography approaches to diagnosing cryptorchidism in horses. Polish Journal of Veterinary Science 13: 473-477.
  11. Sarlos P, Egerszegi I, Nagy S, FebelH, Ratky J. 2011. Reproductive function of Hungarian Mangalica boars: effect of seasons. Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 59: 257-267.
  12. Sayer, J.A., Van Lavieren, L.P. (1975). The ecology of the Kafue lechwe population of Zambia before the operation of hydroelectric dams of the Kafue River. East African Wildlife Journal 13: 9-37.
  13. Sichilongo, K., Torto, N. (2006). Determination of endocrine disruptors in Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) samples from the Lochinvar National Park of Zambia. Environment International 32: 718-723.
  14. Smith, K., Brown, P., Barr, F. (2012). A Survey of Congenital Reproductive Abnormalities in Rams in Abattoirs in South West England. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 47: 740-745.
  15. Stafford, K.J. (1991). A review of diseases of parasites of the Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 27: 661-667.
  16. Syakalima, M., Choongo, K., Nakazato, Y., Onuma, M., Sugimoto, C., Tsubota, T., Fukushi, H., Yoshida, M., Itagaki, T., Yasuda, J. (2001). An investigation of heavy metal exposure and risks to wildlife in the Kafue flats of Zambia. Journal of Veterinary Medical Sciences 63: 315-318.
  17. Zieger, U., Pandey, G.S., Kriek, N.P., Cauldwell, A.E. (1998). Tuberculosis in Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) and in a bushbuck (tragelaphus scriptus) on a game ranch in central province, Zambia. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 69: 98-101.
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    Research Article

    volume 52 issue 3 (march 2018) : 388-391,   Doi: 10.18805/ijar.B-559

    Biometric analysis of testicles of the Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) and Bangweulu lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani) in Zambia
     

    V
    Victor Chisha Zulu
    A
    Alfred Malenga Mwanza
    M
    Mitsutoshi Yoshida
    M
    Michelo Syakalima
    J
    Jun Yasuda
    1School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical studies, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
    Cite article:- Zulu Chisha Victor, Mwanza Malenga Alfred, Yoshida Mitsutoshi, Syakalima Michelo, Yasuda Jun (2018). Biometric analysis of testicles of the Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) and Bangweulu lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani) in Zambia. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 52(3): 388-391. doi: 10.18805/ijar.B-559.

    ABSTRACT

    The Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) is a unique antelope found only in the Kafue basin of Zambia and is the main source of local income and protein. Its population has been dwindling over the years supposedly due to poaching and environmental pollution in the area and without mention of reproductive causes. The present study was a pilot study which determined biometric measurements of the testicles in adult lechwes as measures of reproductive ability and fertility. Testicles from 24 Kafue and 24 Bangweulu lechwes were examined from August to October 2009. The measurements were taken using Calipers, a ruler and string for testicular length, width, height, head size, body and tail of the epididymis. All testicular parameters were significantly higher in the Kafue than the Bangweulu lechwe. The study also found cases of cryptorchidism and abnormal epididymis in the Kafue and Bangweulu lechwes, respectively. The testicular parameters were measured during the non-breeding season thus influence of breeding on testicular biometry is expected. This was the first study of its kind and further studies on the reproductive physiology and biology are required to understand various causes of reductions in population and thereby aid the conservation of this species.

    REFERENCES

    1. Bell, R.H.V, Grimsdell, J.R, Van Lavieren, L.P, and Sayer, J. (1973). Census of the Kafue lechwe. East African Wildlife Journal 11: 55-74.
    2. Cribb, N.C, Boure, L.P. (2010). Laparoscopic removal of a large abdominal testicular teratoma in a standing horse. Veterinary Surgery 39: 131-135. 
    3. Derar, D.R, Hussein, H.A, Hussein, A.A. (2012). Reference values for the genitalia of male dromedary before and after puberty using caliper and ultrasonography in subtropics. Theriogenology 77: 459-465.
    4. Howard, G.W, Jeffery, R.C.V. (1987). Kafue lechwe population census, .In: Report to National parks and Wildlife Services, Nov. 1987; Chilanga, Lusaka, Zambia.
    5. Khan, H.R, Muhammad M, Mehmood, M. U., Shahzad, Q., Gohar, A, Alam, M, Ali, Q., Kumbar, H.K. (2014). Biometric Assessment of the Testis in Pakistani Adult Male Goats (Capra hircus). Pakistan Journal of Zoology 46: 880.
    6. Little, S. (2011). Feline reproduction: Problems and Clinical Challenges. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 13:874-875.
    7. Luz, P.A.C, Santos, P.R.S, Andrighetto, C., Jorge, A.M., Neto, A.C. (2013).The Correlation between Age, Body Weight and Testicular Parameters in Murrah Buffalo Bulls Raised in Brazil. Journal of Reproductive Development 59: 14–17.
    8. Matsukawa, K., Yoshima, M., Yoshida, M. (1995). Orchiepididymitis due to Brucella in a Kafue lechwe. In: Proceedings of the syrnposium on the effect of enlargement of domestic animal pasture on the wildlife in Zambia. 22nd March 1995; Lusaka, Zambia. pp 123-125.
    9. Pandey, G.S., Mweene, A., Suzuki, A.K., Nambota, A., Kaji, T. (1994). Dermatophilosis (Cutaneous streptothricosis) in Kafue lechwe (Kobus Leche kafuensis). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 30: 587-588.
    10. Ras, A., Rapacz, A., Ras-Norynska, M., Janowsky, T.E. (2010). Clinical, Hormonal and Ultrasonography approaches to diagnosing cryptorchidism in horses. Polish Journal of Veterinary Science 13: 473-477.
    11. Sarlos P, Egerszegi I, Nagy S, FebelH, Ratky J. 2011. Reproductive function of Hungarian Mangalica boars: effect of seasons. Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 59: 257-267.
    12. Sayer, J.A., Van Lavieren, L.P. (1975). The ecology of the Kafue lechwe population of Zambia before the operation of hydroelectric dams of the Kafue River. East African Wildlife Journal 13: 9-37.
    13. Sichilongo, K., Torto, N. (2006). Determination of endocrine disruptors in Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) samples from the Lochinvar National Park of Zambia. Environment International 32: 718-723.
    14. Smith, K., Brown, P., Barr, F. (2012). A Survey of Congenital Reproductive Abnormalities in Rams in Abattoirs in South West England. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 47: 740-745.
    15. Stafford, K.J. (1991). A review of diseases of parasites of the Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 27: 661-667.
    16. Syakalima, M., Choongo, K., Nakazato, Y., Onuma, M., Sugimoto, C., Tsubota, T., Fukushi, H., Yoshida, M., Itagaki, T., Yasuda, J. (2001). An investigation of heavy metal exposure and risks to wildlife in the Kafue flats of Zambia. Journal of Veterinary Medical Sciences 63: 315-318.
    17. Zieger, U., Pandey, G.S., Kriek, N.P., Cauldwell, A.E. (1998). Tuberculosis in Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis) and in a bushbuck (tragelaphus scriptus) on a game ranch in central province, Zambia. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 69: 98-101.
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