Dung test to detect early pregnancy in tigresses expanded to cattle

What began as an effort to prevent tigresses in captivity from killing their own cubs has turned into an unexpected boon for Indian farmers. Scientists at the CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad have developed a simple, non‑invasive test — based on animal dung analysis — that can detect pregnancy in cows and buffaloes as early as six to eight weeks after conception.

The test is based on a novel biomarker identified in animal faeces, which researchers translated into a lateral‑flow device capable of early pregnancy detection, said CCMB’s Chief Scientist and in-charge of the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) G. Umapathy.

How early pregnancy detection helps farmers

Conventional pregnancy detection in cattle relies on methods such as rectal palpation, ultrasonography, or hormone estimation in blood or milk—procedures that become reliable only three to four months after conception. Early detection is crucial for farmers as it helps reduce inter‑calving intervals, minimise economic losses and plan timely artificial insemination, pointed out Dr. Umapathy.

CCMB’s Chief Scientist and in-charge of the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) G. Umapathy
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BY ARRANGEMENT

What prompted scientists to work on it?

LaCONES scientists were initially working on early pregnancy detection in captive tigers, following observations that tigresses sometimes kill their cubs due to stress and behavioural disturbances caused by human proximity. Several such incidents were reported at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, prompting zoo authorities to seek a method to identify pregnancy early so that expectant females could be shifted to quieter enclosures.

Existing pregnancy markers were largely blood‑based, but tranquillising wild animals for blood sampling posed serious risks to both the animal and the foetus. “We therefore shifted our focus to a non‑invasive approach,” said Dr. Umapathy. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‑MS), the team screened urine and dung samples for pregnancy‑related molecules.

Two pregnancy markers identified

After analysing thousands of faecal and urinary samples from multiple species — ranging from primates and deer to lions and tigers — the researchers identified two promising pregnancy markers in faeces. One of these molecules, although known to exist in mammals, had never been reported earlier as a pregnancy indicator.

The team developed an Enzyme‑Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) using antibodies raised against the marker. The test proved accurate across several species and was subsequently adopted by many zoos. The leap to livestock came after a veterinarian raised a query at a scientific symposium. Subsequent trials at a military dairy farm confirmed the test’s effectiveness in detecting pregnancy in cattle and buffaloes.

With the collaboration of former CCMB colleagues Ch. Mohan Rao and Amit Asthana, the researchers went on to develop a field‑deployable, paper‑based kit suitable for non‑technical users. The technology has since received patents in the United States and Russia and is now being readied for transfer to industry, added Dr. Umapathy.