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Fowler KJ, Santymire RM. Characterizing zoo-housed Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) reproduction using gonadal steroid metabolite analysis in feces. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2022; 80:106721. [PMID: 35349824 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2022.106721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Millions of people globally depend on camelids, which demands an increased knowledge of their reproduction. We used zoo-housed Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) to better understand camelid reproductive physiology. Our specific objectives were to: 1) validate the use of fecal hormone metabolite analysis to characterize camel reproductive physiology during sexual maturity and pregnancy; and 2) determine the influence of season on male and female reproduction. We collected fecal samples from 1 male and 3 females housed at Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, IL, USA) 1 to 2 times per week for 3.5 years. Extracted hormones were analyzed using enzyme immunoassays for progestogen (FPM), estrogen (FEM), and androgen (FAM) metabolite concentrations. One female sexually matured during our study as evidenced by increased FEM baseline. Results demonstrated seasonal effects on male androgen production with FAMs higher (P < 0.05) January to June (mean ± SEM: 664.6 ± 22.6 ng/g wet feces), compared to July to December (401.6 ± 17.5 ng/g wet feces). One female experienced a persistent corpus luteum, a reproductive abnormality, which was identified by prolonged elevated FPM. FPMs increased during pregnancy for two females (452.9 ± 24.9 and 294.4 ± 19.8 ng/g wet feces) with a gestation of 404 d and 442 d, respectively. The third female never conceived. The FEMs varied (P < 0.05) during the year with no clear seasonal patterns (monthly mean range: 213.1-371.0 ng/g wet feces). Fecal hormone metabolite analysis is a validated method for assessing male seasonality and female pregnancy in the Bactrian camel and can for their management and conservation in zoos and the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Fowler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607; Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614.
| | - R M Santymire
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607; Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614; Biology Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302
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Di Francesco J, Mastromonaco GF, Rowell JE, Blake J, Checkley SL, Kutz S. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites reflect hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249281. [PMID: 33852609 PMCID: PMC8046187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), a taxonomically unique Arctic species, are increasingly exposed to climate and other anthropogenic changes. It is critical to develop and validate reliable tools to monitor their physiological stress response in order to assess the impacts of these changes. Here, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) levels in response to the administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the winter (1 IU/kg) and summer (2 IU/kg) using two enzyme immunoassays, one targeting primarily cortisol and the other targeting primarily corticosterone. Fecal cortisol levels varied substantially within and among individuals, and none of the animals in either challenge showed an increase in fecal cortisol following the injection of ACTH. By contrast, two of six (winter) and two of five (summer) muskoxen showed a clear response in fecal corticosterone levels (i.e., maximal percentage increase as compared to time 0 levels > 100%). Increases in fecal corticosterone post-ACTH injection occurred earlier and were of shorter duration in the summer than in the winter and fecal corticosterone levels were, in general, lower during the summer. These seasonal differences in FGM responses may be related to the use of different individuals (i.e., influence of sex, age, social status, etc.) and to seasonal variations in the metabolism and excretion of glucocorticoids, intestinal transit time, voluntary food intake, and fecal output and moisture content. Results from this study support using FGMs as a biomarker of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity in muskoxen, advance our understanding of the physiological adaptations of mammals living in highly seasonal and extreme environments such as the Arctic, and emphasize the importance of considering seasonality in other species when interpreting FGM levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Di Francesco
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- French Armed Forces Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CESPA), Marseille, France
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Janice E. Rowell
- Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - John Blake
- Animal Resources Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Sylvia L. Checkley
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Rodríguez-Hernández P, Cardador MJ, Arce L, Rodríguez-Estévez V. Analytical Tools for Disease Diagnosis in Animals via Fecal Volatilome. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2020; 52:917-932. [PMID: 33180561 DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2020.1843130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Volatilome analysis is growing in attention for the diagnosis of diseases in animals and humans. In particular, volatilome analysis in fecal samples is starting to be proposed as a fast, easy and noninvasive method for disease diagnosis. Volatilome comprises volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are produced during both physiological and patho-physiological processes. Thus, VOCs from a pathological condition often differ from those of a healthy state and therefore the VOCs profile can be used in the detection of some diseases. Due to their strengths and advantages, feces are currently being used to obtain information related to health status in animals. However, they are complex samples, that can present problems for some analytical techniques and require special consideration in their use and preparation before analysis. This situation demands an effort to clarify which analytic options are currently being used in the research context to analyze the possibilities these offer, with the final objectives of contributing to develop a standardized methodology and to exploit feces potential as a diagnostic matrix. The current work reviews the studies focused on the diagnosis of animal diseases through fecal volatilome in order to evaluate the analytical methods used and their advantages and limitations. The alternatives found in the literature for sampling, storage, sample pretreatment, measurement and data treatment have been summarized, considering all the steps involved in the analytical process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M J Cardador
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemistry and Nanochemistry, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - L Arce
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemistry and Nanochemistry, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
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Shah I, Haddow JD, Ibrahim HA, Sheikh MVA, Alhemeiri FS. A novel and innovative hair test to determine glucocorticoid levels in racing camels for use in assessment of doping, health, and disease. Drug Test Anal 2017; 10:742-749. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.2311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Iltaf Shah
- Department of Chemistry; United Arab Emirates University; Al Ain UAE
| | - Jody D. Haddow
- Department of Chemistry; United Arab Emirates University; Al Ain UAE
| | - Hiba A. Ibrahim
- Department of Chemistry; United Arab Emirates University; Al Ain UAE
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Aubè L, Fatnassi M, Monaco D, Khorchani T, Lacalandra GM, Hammadi M, Padalino B. Daily rhythms of behavioral and hormonal patterns in male dromedary camels housed in boxes. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3074. [PMID: 28367365 PMCID: PMC5374969 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Daily rhythmicity has been observed for a number of hormonal and behavioral variables in mammals. It can be entrained by several external factors, such as light-dark cycle and scheduled feeding. In dromedary camels, daily rhythmicity has been documented only for melatonin secretion and body temperature. In this study, the daily rhythmicity of behavioral repertoire, cortisol and testosterone levels was investigated in captive male camels. Methods Six clinically healthy male dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) were used. The animals were housed in single boxes for 24 h daily and fed twice a day. Over a period of 48 h, behavioral observations were made and blood samples taken every two hours. The data were analyzed using diurnality index, conisor analysis and PROC mixed procedure. Results The diurnality index for rumination and lying down was close to 0 (respectively, 0.09 and 0.19), while the indices for stereotypy, standing, feeding and walking were close to 1 (respectively, 0.74, 0.84, 0.92 and 0.85). Cosinor analysis revealed daily rhythmicity for all behaviors and for cortisol levels (acrophase at 12:57) but not for testosterone. Rumination and lying down (inactive behaviors) reached a peak during the scotophase, whereas feeding, walking and stereotypy (active behaviors) reached a peak during the photophase around midday. Cortisol level and expression of stereotypies peaked before and after food distribution and were negatively correlated (r = − 0.287, P = 0.005). Testosterone levels and expression of sexual behaviors were stimulated by the visual and olfactory contacts with the females and were positively correlated (r = 0.164, P = 0.040). Testosterone was also negatively correlated with cortisol (r = − 0.297; P = 0.003). Discussion These preliminary results provided new knowledge about the daily rhythm of behaviors in camels housed in boxes, suggesting that camels exhibit diurnal behavior pattern in the maintenance conditions outlined in the study. Daily rhythmicity seemed to be entrained not only by the light-dark cycle but also by scheduled feeding. The rise in stereotypy after food distribution could be due to the persistence of feeding motivation and frustration after the ingestion of food. Therefore, feeding practices should be improved to satisfy the foraging and feeding motivation of these camels. Behavioral and hormonal daily patterns in camels should be taken in consideration to adapt the management system, giving the animals more freedom during the light period and a diet richer in fiber, so as to improve reproductive performance, health and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydiane Aubè
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, University of Bari , Italy
| | - Meriem Fatnassi
- Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A.) , Médenine , Tunisia
| | - Davide Monaco
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, University of Bari , Italy
| | - Touhami Khorchani
- Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A.) , Médenine , Tunisia
| | - Giovanni Michele Lacalandra
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, University of Bari , Italy
| | - Mohamed Hammadi
- Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A.) , Médenine , Tunisia
| | - Barbara Padalino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari , Valenzano (Bari) , Italy
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Bashaw MJ, Sicks F, Palme R, Schwarzenberger F, Tordiffe ASW, Ganswindt A. Non-invasive assessment of adrenocortical activity as a measure of stress in giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). BMC Vet Res 2016; 12:235. [PMID: 27756312 PMCID: PMC5070010 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0864-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Numbers of giraffes are declining rapidly in their native habitat. As giraffe research and conservation efforts increase, the demand for more complete measures of the impact of conservation interventions and the effects of captive environments on animal health and welfare have risen. We compared the ability of six different enzyme immunoassays to quantify changes in fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) resulting from three sources: adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test, transport, and time of day that samples were collected. Results Two male giraffes underwent ACTH injections; all six assays detected FGM increases following injection for Giraffe 1, while only three assays detected FGM increases following injection for Giraffe 2. Consistent with other ruminant species, the two 11-oxoetiocholanolone assays (one for 11,17-dioxoandrostanes and the other for 3α,11-oxo metabolites) measured the most pronounced and prolonged elevation of FGM, while an assay for 3β,11β-diol detected peaks of smaller magnitude and duration. Both of the 11-oxoetiocholanolone assays detected significant FGM increases after transport in Giraffes 3–7, and preliminary data suggest FGM detected by the assay for 11,17-dioxoandrostanes may differ across time of day. Conclusions We conclude the assay for 11,17-dioxoandrostanes is the most sensitive assay tested for FGM in giraffes and the assay for FGM with a 5β-3α-ol-11-one structure is also effective. 11-oxoetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassays have now been demonstrated to be successful in a wide variety of ruminant species, providing indirect evidence that 5β-reduction may be a common metabolic pathway for glucocorticoids in ruminants. As FGM peaks were detected in at least some giraffes using all assays tested, giraffes appear to excrete a wide variety of different FGM. The assays validated here will provide a valuable tool for research on the health, welfare, and conservation of giraffes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-016-0864-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith J Bashaw
- Wildlife Reproductive Centre, Taronga Conservation Society of Australia, Dubbo, NSW, Australia. .,Department of Psychology, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, USA.
| | | | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz Schwarzenberger
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Adrian S W Tordiffe
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa.,National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Andre Ganswindt
- National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Endocrine Research Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
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Majchrzak YN, Mastromonaco GF, Korver W, Burness G. Use of salivary cortisol to evaluate the influence of rides in dromedary camels. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015; 211:123-30. [PMID: 25452030 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2014] [Revised: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 11/05/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Animals in captivity and in the wild face numerous challenges, including the risk of enduring acute or chronic stress. In captivity, facilities attempt to alleviate the risk of chronic stress by providing environmental enrichment, shown to minimize behavioral disorders and stress in several species. One potential form of enrichment in zoos is training animals to provide rides for guests, however, the effect of this activity on the welfare of individual animals has never been examined. We validated the use of saliva for assessing stress in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius), an animal commonly used for rides. We then measured variation in salivary cortisol in four male camels while providing rides of differing frequency for guests at the Toronto Zoo. The camels were sampled during the ride season (June to September) using four treatments: (1) in their pasture, (2) at the ride area when not performing rides, (3) while providing a low number of rides (n=50/day) and (4) while providing a high number of rides (n=150/day). Furthermore, samples were taken before and after the ride season for comparison. There was a significant difference between the post-ride season treatment and the three treatments involving guest presence during the ride season (ride area, low rides, high rides). In general, cortisol concentrations were lower during the ride season and higher during the non-ride season. Based on the metrics we used, performing rides is not a stressful experience for these dromedary camels and suggests that rides may be a form of enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine N Majchrzak
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada.
| | - Gabriela F Mastromonaco
- Environmental and Life Sciences Department, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Wendy Korver
- Bowmanville Zoological Park, 340 King St. E, Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K5, Canada
| | - Gary Burness
- Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada.
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