Corrigendum to: 18 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE EFFICIENCY OF 30-mg FLUROGESTONE ACETATE INTRAVAGINAL SPONGE (FGA-30) AND CONTROLLED INTERNAL DRUG RELEASE (CIDR) TO SYNCHRONIZE OESTRUS IN EWES

Abstract

The aim of the present study was comparing between the efficiency of FGA-30 (intravaginal polyurethane sponges impregnated with 30 mg of flurogestone acetate; Synchropart®, Ceva Sante, Animale, France) and EAZI-Breed™ CIDR® (an inert silicone elastomer impregnated with 0.3 g of natural progesterone; Pfizer Animal Health, Hamilton, New Zealand) to synchronize oestrus in ewes. Three hundred twenty multiparous ewes of 2 native breeds (Naimi and Najdi) were equally and randomly allotted into 2 groups: Group A (FGA-30, n = 160) and Group B (CIDR®, n = 160). Both methods were inserted intravaginally for 14 days with intramuscular administration of 600 IU of eCG (Synchropart® Ceva Sante, Animale, France) at withdrawal time. Retention, vaginal discharge, and drawstring breakage rates were calculated at withdrawal time. The standing oestrous was detected using a vasectomized ram starting 24 h after progestagen withdrawal and repeated every 12 h (24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h). The blood samples were collected at the time of progestagen withdrawal, after 24 h, and after 48 h (at time of AI). Follicular stimulating hormone, LH, oestradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) serum concentrations were measured using commercial ELISA kits and micro-titrimetric plates. Laparoscopic insemination was performed 48 h after progestagen withdrawal. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasonography at day 23 after insemination and confirmed at Day 35 and 60. Number of fetuses was recorded and confirmed at lambing. Pregnancy rate, fecundity percentage (litter size percentage), and prolificacy percentage (lambing rate) were calculated. The SAS programme was used for all analyses. Data were expressed in percentages except hormone levels, which were expressed as the mean ± standard error. Comparisons among groups were evaluated using Chi Square in all measured parameters except hormone levels, which were evaluated using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. A difference was considered significant at P < 0.05. The results revealed that retention rate was insignificantly different between the two groups. Drawstring breakage was observed only in FGA-30 and was absent in CIDR (9.33% v. 0). Moreover, vaginal discharge rate was significantly higher in FGA-30. Oestrus response was significantly higher in CIDR at 24 h and 48 h after progestagen withdrawal. Oestradiol and progesterone serum levels were significantly higher in CIDR, whereas LH and FSH serum levels showed insignificant differences. Pregnancy rate, twining rate, prolificacy, and fecundity were significantly higher in CIDR (75.71%, 33.96%, 1.34 and 1.01, respectively). These results show that although FGA and CIDR devices are efficient in synchronizing oestrus in ewes, CIDR provides higher oestrus response rate, pregnancy rate, twining rate, prolificacy, and fecundity. Consequently, the use of CIDR is recommended.