Validation of the BioPRYN enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of pregnancy-specific protein-B (PSPB) and diagnosis of pregnancy in American bison (Bison bison).

This study assessed the accuracy of the commercial BioPRYN ELISA for the detection of pregnancy-specific protein-B (PSPB) using a single blood sample to determine pregnancy status in American bison (Bison bison). A total of 49 bison cows were used in the study, and sampled at two time-points during the gestation period, fall and spring, correlating with early- to mid-term gestation (average 62.9 days post-mating) and mid- to late-term gestation (average 229.2 days post-mating), respectively. Sensitivity of the test during early- to mid-term gestation sampling period (fall) was 87.1%, while specificity was 100%; sensitivity of the test during late-term gestation sampling period (spring) was 96.3%, while specificity remained at 100%. In total, the test showed a total sensitivity of 91.4%, specificity of 100% and total accuracy of 93.8%, similar to domestic cattle. Use of the single-sample BioPRYN ELISA in American Bison for pregnancy diagnosis is economical and practical, minimizing animal handling time, frequency and subsequent stress while providing accurate results for pregnancy diagnosis at 62 days post-mating. This method should be considered over more traditional pregnancy diagnosis methods for use in managed bison herds.