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<meta content="Gartrell, Brett D." name="eprints.creators_name" />
<meta content="Girling, Jane E." name="eprints.creators_name" />
<meta content="Edwards, Ashley" name="eprints.creators_name" />
<meta content="Jones, Susan M." name="eprints.creators_name" />
<meta content="B.Gartrell@massey.ac.nz" name="eprints.creators_id" />
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<meta content="Ashley.Edwards@utas.edu.au" name="eprints.creators_id" />
<meta content="S.M.Jones@utas.edu.au" name="eprints.creators_id" />
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<meta content="We compared the diagnostic value of three noninvasive methods (radiography, ultrasound, and palpation) of evaluating reproductive status in females of a large viviparous skink, the blotched blue-tongued lizard (Tiliqua nigrolutea). Radiography could be used to identify postovulatory females during the periovulatory period. However, in early to mid-gestation, radiography did not allow differentiation of the relatively homogenous structures within the abdomen. In late gestation, once calcification of the embryonic skeleton had occurred, gestation could be diagnosed and embryos counted. Ultrasound allowed differentiation between preovulatory, postovulatory, and nonreproductive females during the periovulatory period. Ultrasound also allowed visualisation of follicles during the early and middle stages of gestation. However, the level of operator experience, and the misdiagnosis of artefacts limited the accuracy of diagnosis. In the later stages of gestation, ultrasound did allow the detection of identifiable features of the developing foetal unit (fluid-filled foetal membranes, independent movement of the embryo, and visualisation of the heartbeat). Colour Doppler imaging could be used to visualise embryonic blood flow. Ultrasonography was not useful in detecting the number of embryos present. Palpation during the periovulatory period could be used to detect follicles and determine whether ovulation had occurred. However, during the remainder of the gestation period, palpation was unable to differentiate reproductive condition. This study provides a basis for the diagnosis of reproductive condition and problems in viviparous reptiles. Each of the diagnostic techniques is useful at different stages of gestation, and the use of a combined approach will give the most information throughout the reproductive cycle. Zoo Biol 21:253-268, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc." name="eprints.abstract" />
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<meta content="Anderson NL, Williams J, Sagartz SE, Barnewall R. 1996. Ovarian teratoma in a green Iguana (Iguana iguana). J Zoo Wildl Med 27: 90-95. Links
Atkins N, Jones SM, Edwards A. 2002. Fecal testosterone concentrations may not be useful for monitoring reproductive status in male blue-tongued lizards (Tiliqua nigrolutea: Scincidae). J Herpetol 36: 106-109. Links
Bull CM, Pamula Y, Schulze L. 1993. Parturition in the sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa. J. Herpetol 27: 489-492. Links
Cooper Jr WE. 2000. Food chemical discrimination by the omnivorous scincid lizards Tiliqua scincoides and T. rugosa. Herpetologica 56: 480-488. Links
Cree A, Cockrem JF, Brown MA, Watson PR, Guillette Jr LJ, Newman DG, Chambers GK. 1991. Laparoscopy, radiography and blood samples as techniques for identifying reproductive condition of female tuatara. Herpetologica 47: 238-249. Links
DeNardo D. 1996. Reproductive biology. In: Mader DR , editor. Reptile medicine and surgery. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. p 212-223.
Edwards A. 1999. Steroids and reproductive biology in the blotched blue-tongued lizard, Tiliqua nigrolutea. Dissertation, University of Tasmania, Hobart.
Edwards A, Jones SM. 2001a. Changes in plasma progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone concentrations throughout the reproductive cycle in female viviparous blue-tongued skinks, Tiliqua nigrolutea (Scincidae), in Tasmania. Gen Comp Endocrinol 122: 260-269. Links
Edwards A, Jones SM. 2001b. Changes in plasma testosterone, estrogen and progesterone concentrations throughout the annual reproductive cycle in male viviparous blue-tongued skinks, Tiliqua nigrolutea, (Scincidae), in Tasmania. J Herpetol 35: 293-299. Links
Fergusson B, Bradshaw SD. 1992. In vitro uterine contractions in the viviparous lizard Tiliqua rugosa: effects of gestation and steroid pre-treatment in vivo. Gen Comp Endocrinol 86: 203-210. Links
Graves BM, Halpern M. 1991. Discrimination of self from conspecific chemical cues in Tiliqua scincoides (Sauria: Scincidae). J Herpetol 25: 125-126. Links
Krautwald-Junghanns M-E, Kostka VM, Dörsch B. 1998. Comparative studies on the diagnostic value of conventional radiography and computed tomography in evaluating the heads of psittacine and raptorial birds. J Avian Med Surg 12: 149-157. Links
Mattoon JS, Nyland TG. 1995. Ultrasonography of the genital system. In: Mattoon JS , Nyland TG , editors. Veterinary diagnostic ultrasound. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. p 141-164.
Nyland TG, Mattoon JS, Wisner ER. 1995. Physical principles, instrumentation, and safety of diagnostic ultrasound. In: Mattoon JS , Nyland TG , editors. Veterinary diagnostic ultrasound. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. p 3-18.
Olsson M, Shine R, Wapstra E. 1993. Costs of reproduction in a lizard species: a comparison of observational and experimental data. Oikos 93: 121-125. Links
Rawlinson PA. 1974. In: Williams WD , editor. Biogeography and ecology of the reptiles of Tasmania and the Bass Strait area. The Hague: W. Junk. p 291-338.
Romagnano A, Shiroma JT, Heard DJ, Johnson RD, Schiering MR, Mladinich CRJ. 1996. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and coelomic cavity of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica). Vet Radiol Ultrasound 37: 431-440. Links
Schildger BJ, Häfeli W, Kramer M, Tenhu H, Wicker R. 2000. Die Anwendung bildgebender verfahren zur geschlectsbestimmung bei reptilien. Der Praktische Tierarzt 81: 150-160. Links
Silverman S, Janssen DL. 1996. Diagnostic imaging. In: Mader DR , editor. Reptile medicine and surgery. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. p 258-263.
Wapstra E. 2000. Maternal basking opportunity affects juvenile phenotype in a viviparous lizard. Funct Ecol 14: 345-352. Links
Wapstra E, Swain R. 2001. Geographic and annual variation in life history traits in a temperate zone Australian skink. J Herpetol 35: 194-203. Links
Zuri I, Bull CM. 2000. Reduced access to olfactory cues and home-range maintenance in the sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa). J Zool 252: 137-145. Links " name="eprints.referencetext" />
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<meta content="We compared the diagnostic value of three noninvasive methods (radiography, ultrasound, and palpation) of evaluating reproductive status in females of a large viviparous skink, the blotched blue-tongued lizard (Tiliqua nigrolutea). Radiography could be used to identify postovulatory females during the periovulatory period. However, in early to mid-gestation, radiography did not allow differentiation of the relatively homogenous structures within the abdomen. In late gestation, once calcification of the embryonic skeleton had occurred, gestation could be diagnosed and embryos counted. Ultrasound allowed differentiation between preovulatory, postovulatory, and nonreproductive females during the periovulatory period. Ultrasound also allowed visualisation of follicles during the early and middle stages of gestation. However, the level of operator experience, and the misdiagnosis of artefacts limited the accuracy of diagnosis. In the later stages of gestation, ultrasound did allow the detection of identifiable features of the developing foetal unit (fluid-filled foetal membranes, independent movement of the embryo, and visualisation of the heartbeat). Colour Doppler imaging could be used to visualise embryonic blood flow. Ultrasonography was not useful in detecting the number of embryos present. Palpation during the periovulatory period could be used to detect follicles and determine whether ovulation had occurred. However, during the remainder of the gestation period, palpation was unable to differentiate reproductive condition. This study provides a basis for the diagnosis of reproductive condition and problems in viviparous reptiles. Each of the diagnostic techniques is useful at different stages of gestation, and the use of a combined approach will give the most information throughout the reproductive cycle. Zoo Biol 21:253-268, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc." name="DC.description" />
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<h1 class="ep_tm_pagetitle">Comparison of noninvasive methods for the evaluation of female reproductive condition in a large viviparous lizard, Tiliqua nigrolutea</h1>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"><span class="person_name">Gartrell, Brett D.</span> and <span class="person_name">Girling, Jane E.</span> and <span class="person_name">Edwards, Ashley</span> and <span class="person_name">Jones, Susan M.</span> (2002) <xhtml:em>Comparison of noninvasive methods for the evaluation of female reproductive condition in a large viviparous lizard, Tiliqua nigrolutea.</xhtml:em> Zoo Biology, 21 (3). pp. 253-268. ISSN 0733-3188</p><p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"></p><table style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"><tr><td valign="top" style="text-align:center"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/622/1/ultrasound_paper.pdf"><img alt="[img]" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png" class="ep_doc_icon" border="0" /></a></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/622/1/ultrasound_paper.pdf"><span class="ep_document_citation">PDF</span></a> - Full text restricted - Requires a PDF viewer<br />327Kb</td><td><form method="get" accept-charset="utf-8" action="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/request_doc"><input accept-charset="utf-8" value="634" name="docid" type="hidden" /><div class=""><input value="Request a copy" name="_action_null" class="ep_form_action_button" onclick="return EPJS_button_pushed( '_action_null' )" type="submit" /> </div></form></td></tr></table><p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block">Official URL: <a href="http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/95016301/">http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/95016301/</a></p><div class="not_ep_block"><h2>Abstract</h2><p style="padding-bottom: 16px; text-align: left; margin: 1em auto 0em auto">We compared the diagnostic value of three noninvasive methods (radiography, ultrasound, and palpation) of evaluating reproductive status in females of a large viviparous skink, the blotched blue-tongued lizard (Tiliqua nigrolutea). Radiography could be used to identify postovulatory females during the periovulatory period. However, in early to mid-gestation, radiography did not allow differentiation of the relatively homogenous structures within the abdomen. In late gestation, once calcification of the embryonic skeleton had occurred, gestation could be diagnosed and embryos counted. Ultrasound allowed differentiation between preovulatory, postovulatory, and nonreproductive females during the periovulatory period. Ultrasound also allowed visualisation of follicles during the early and middle stages of gestation. However, the level of operator experience, and the misdiagnosis of artefacts limited the accuracy of diagnosis. In the later stages of gestation, ultrasound did allow the detection of identifiable features of the developing foetal unit (fluid-filled foetal membranes, independent movement of the embryo, and visualisation of the heartbeat). Colour Doppler imaging could be used to visualise embryonic blood flow. Ultrasonography was not useful in detecting the number of embryos present. Palpation during the periovulatory period could be used to detect follicles and determine whether ovulation had occurred. However, during the remainder of the gestation period, palpation was unable to differentiate reproductive condition. This study provides a basis for the diagnosis of reproductive condition and problems in viviparous reptiles. Each of the diagnostic techniques is useful at different stages of gestation, and the use of a combined approach will give the most information throughout the reproductive cycle. Zoo Biol 21:253-268, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</p></div><table style="margin-bottom: 1em" cellpadding="3" class="not_ep_block" border="0"><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Item Type:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">Article</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Keywords:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">blue-tongued skink, gestation, palpation, reproductive status, radiology, ultrasound</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Subjects:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/270604.html">270000 Biological Sciences > 270600 Physiology > 270604 Comparative Physiology</a><br /><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/300509.html">300000 Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences > 300500 Veterinary Sciences > 300509 Radiology and Imaging</a><br /><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/270603.html">270000 Biological Sciences > 270600 Physiology > 270603 Animal Physiology - Systems</a></td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Collections:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">UNSPECIFIED</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">ID Code:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">622</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Deposited By:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><span class="ep_name_citation"><span class="person_name">Dr Ashley Edwards</span></span></td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Deposited On:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">18 Jan 2007</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Last Modified:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">04 Feb 2008 13:41</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">ePrint Statistics:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><a target="ePrintStats" href="/es/index.php?action=show_detail_eprint;id=622;">View statistics for this ePrint</a></td></tr></table><p align="right">Repository Staff Only: <a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint::View&eprintid=622">item control page</a></p>
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