Monitoring the oestrous cycle of the chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii) (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae): non-invasive analysis of faecal oestradiol-17b

Abstract

Faecal oestradiol-17β levels were monitored for three months during the breeding period in six female chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii) held in a captive colony. Four of the females mated and gave birth to young. One female mated once but did not conceive and the other female did not mate. Peaks in oestradiol concentration, up to 9 ng g^–1 of dried faecal mass, were observed during the period when urogenital swabs were dominated by cornified epithelial cells. Multiple peaks of oestradiol were also observed in the female that did not mate, suggesting that the chuditch may be a reflex ovulator. Monitoring of faecal oestradiol levels did not enable oestrus to be determined with precision, but showed potential for elucidating details of the reproductive biology of this and other marsupial species.