Use of an ELISA for plasma progesterone to facilitate rabbit husbandry

National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London.

There is a need for a simple and accurate method for detecting pregnancy in rabbits; the available methods are not ideal and may not provide the diagnosis at an appropriate time for the early remating of non-pregnant animals. This paper describes the use of an ELISA kit to measure progesterone concentrations in rabbit plasma; a qualitative assessment of the results appears to be sufficiently accurate for pregnancy diagnosis, as does the use of serum instead of plasma. The technique can be used to predict ovulation and to distinguish between pregnant and pseudopregnant animals.