Zona pellucida-based immunocontraception for canine fertility control: A scoping review.

Authors

Leena Awawdeh, Noor Alani, Esther T Callcott, Michael Holland

Published in

Theriogenology. Volume 269. Pages 118282. Oct 22, 2026. Epub Oct 22, 2026.

Abstract

To map the extent, characteristics and gaps in published evidence on zona pellucida (ZP)-related immunocontraceptive development relevant to female dogs, distinguishing canine reproductive observations from immunogenicity, surrogate-model and mechanistic evidence.
A scoping review was conducted in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological guidance and reported using the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The eligibility period was expanded to include studies published from 1979 through December 2025, ensuring inclusion of early foundational research on canine zona pellucida (ZP)-based immunocontraception. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and databases accessed through EBSCO were searched. Supplementary searches of Google Scholar and citation searching were undertaken to identify additional relevant records. Eligible evidence was charted descriptively according to publication, animal model, intervention, study design, and reported outcomes. Consistent with the descriptive scoping review approach, no meta-analysis or formal risk-of-bias assessment was undertaken.
The current map contains 19 primary reports, including seven with female-dog reproductive or ovarian observations and two additional canine immunogenicity reports. These are report counts, not independent-cohort counts. Canine pregnancy, pup-production, cycle, endocrine and ovarian outcomes were measured in varying combinations. Related endocrine and histopathology reports explicitly reused animals. Small groups, inconsistent outcome denominators, incompletely described assessment procedures and incomplete source availability limit interpretation. A structured post-treatment breeding assessment establishing reproductive recovery was not identified in the available canine texts.
The literature maps a heterogeneous development pathway from antigen characterisation to small canine reproductive experiments. The main gaps concern cohort independence, reproductive denominators, standardised ovarian assessment, post-treatment fertility recovery and longitudinal welfare outcomes. This map identifies questions for research; it does not estimate comparative effectiveness, grade safety, or recommend clinical use.

PMID:
43033583
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Nov 2026.

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