Detection of early pregnancy in sheep by the rosette inhibition test

The rossette inhibition test, an established test for determining the immunosuppressive potential of antilymphocyte serum, has been applied to the serum of sheep after mating. The rosette inhibition titre was much higher (12--26) in 7 sheep which were fertilized and remained pregnant for up to 21 days than in 5 sterile ewes mated with intact rams (8--10). The difference was apparent by 24 h after mating. One ewe had high titres for 6 days after mating but these then dropped and she returned to oestrus; early embryonic loss was suspected. Another ewe which returned to oestrus had consistently low titres. The results indicate that the rosette inhibition test can be used to detect fertilization, early embryonic death and continued pregnancy in sheep.