Bovine Pregnancy Test

• US 20070184558A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspenbio Pharma, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aspenbio Pharma, Inc.
• Inventors: Landmann, Cathy, Colgin, Mark, Hurst, Roger, Newman, Diane, Roth, J.W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,687,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/510
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/006 for detecting pregnancy of animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/368 Pregnancy complicated by disease or abnormalities of pregnancy, e.g. preeclampsia, preterm labour

Abstract

This invention provides bovine pregnancy test methods and devices. The test is also suitable for other ruminant and/or ungulate animals. Antigens from Group A (early pregnancy antigens), and/or Group B (mid-pregnancy antigens), and Group C (early, mid- and late pregnancy antigens) are detected in a fluid from the animal, and pregnancy is reliably determined. The pregnancy assays of this invention are preferably carried out using immunoassay devices which provide immediate results in the field.

Claims

1. A method for determining pregnancy of a ruminant and/or ungulate animal, the method comprising:

(a) testing a fluid or cell derived from said animal for the presence of at least one Group A or Group B antigen;

(b) testing a fluid or cell derived from said animal for the presence of at least one Group C antigen;

(c) determining that the animal is pregnant if testing is positive for the presence of at least one Group A or Group B antigen and at least one Group C antigen; and

(d) determining that the animal is not pregnant if testing is negative for the presence of at least one Group C antigen.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal is selected from the group consisting cattle, sheep, goats, yak, water buffalo, bison, antelopes, gazelles, elk, reindeer, moose, bighorn sheep, swine, horses, giraffes, bactrian and dromedary camels, llamas, alpacas, and vicunas.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal is a cow.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising testing said fluid for the presence of at least one Group A antigen and at least one Group B antigen.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein testing for the presence of said Group A or Group B antigen is done by means of contacting said fluid with an antibody for said antigen.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said antibody is present on a test strip.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein antibodies for both Group A and Group B antigens are on the same test strip.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein testing for the presence of said Group C antigen is done by means of contacting said fluid with an antibody for said antigen.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said antibody is present on a test strip.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein antibodies for Group A or Group B antigens are on the same test strip with antibodies for a Group C antigen.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said Group A antigen is selected from the group consisting of ISG17, Mx, GCP-2, 2′

,5′

oligoadenylate synthetase, β

2-microglobulin, IRF-1, IRF-2, I-8U, 1-8D and Leu-13/9-27, COX-2, BAG, EPF, PAG-1, PAG-4, PAG-5, and PAG-9.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said Group B antigen is selected from the group consisting of PSPB, PSP-60, PAG-6, and PAG-7.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said Group C antigen is progesterone.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, milk, nasal secretions, ocular secretions, vaginal secretions, saliva and cell lysates.

19. A method for determining readiness for breeding of a female animal of a ruminant and/or ungulate species, said method comprising:

a) determining that the animal is not pregnant using the method of claim 1;

b) monitoring for and detecting behavioral estrus;

thereby determining readiness for breeding.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein method step a) comprises obtaining a sample from said animal on day 18-21 of said animal'"'"'s estrus cycle.

21. A method for readying a female animal of a ruminant and/or ungulate species for breeding, said method comprising:

a) determining that the animal is not pregnant using the method of claim 1;

b) forcing said animal into heat;

thereby readying said animal for breeding.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein method step a) comprises obtaining a sample from said animal on day 18-21 of said animal'"'"'s estrus cycle.

23. The method of claim 21 also comprising breeding said animal.