Oestrous cycle of captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in South Australia, Australia

There is limited information available on the oestrous cycle of female southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). This is mainly due to an extremely poor breeding success in captivity and the difficulty in routine recapturing of these cryptic, semi-fossorial animals in the wild. The aim of this study was to characterise the oestrous cycle of this species by monitoring peripheral plasma concentrations of progesterone and oestradiol, assessing changes in vaginal cytology, pouch condition and the urogenital sinus. Eight adult female wombats were monitored during the breeding season (July–December) over 2 years (2002–2003). Samples were collected up to three times a week. Vaginal smears contained several cell types, categorised by morphology, as either superficial epithelial cells or parabasal–intermediate cells. Leucocytes were also counted. Plasma progesterone profiles showed a mean oestrous cycle length of 36.33 ± 0.67 days with a peak progesterone concentration of 139.53 ± 10.62 nmol/L. Levels of oestradiol peaked at a mean level of 467.33 ± 44.32 pmol/L on average 5 days before a rise in plasma progesterone values. The proportion of epithelial cells in vaginal smears varied throughout the cycle, with a high percentage of superficial epithelial cells observed during the follicular phase. During periods when progesterone concentrations were high, a greater percentage of parabasal–intermediate cells was observed. In conclusion, this study has characterised the oestrous cycle of the southern hairy-nosed wombat and confirmed that changes in vaginal smears together with pouch and urogenital sinus details could be used to determine signs of oestrus in this species.