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de Lima AF, Lima SGC, Nogueira-Filho SLG, Held SDE, Mendl M, Nogueira SSC. Object Play as a Positive Emotional State Indicator for Farmed Spotted Paca ( Cuniculus paca). Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:78. [PMID: 38200809 PMCID: PMC10778172 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
We aimed to assess whether object play can be used as a positive emotional state indicator for farmed spotted pacas (Cuniculus paca) by examining its association with other positive welfare markers including affiliative behavior and low-amplitude vocalizations. We submitted six groups of spotted pacas (one male/two females per group) (N = 18) to an ABA experimental design (A1/A2: without ball; B: with three boomer balls). Object play behavior occurred only during phase B (mean = 35.5 s, SE = 6.4). The spotted pacas spent more time in affiliative and exploratory behaviors and less time engaging in agonistic interactions during phase B than in both control phases (A1 and A2) (p < 0.05). Moreover, the spotted pacas emitted more low-amplitude bark vocalizations during phase B than during either control phase (p < 0.05), and such vocalizations have previously been shown to indicate a positive affective state and low arousal level. Because the expression of object play was associated with a decrease in aggression, an increase in affiliative behavior, and an increase in low-amplitude barking, we suggest that object play can be used as a non-invasive indicator of positive emotional state in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison F. de Lima
- Applied Ethology Laboratory, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil; (A.F.d.L.); (S.G.C.L.); (S.L.G.N.-F.)
| | - Stella G. C. Lima
- Applied Ethology Laboratory, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil; (A.F.d.L.); (S.G.C.L.); (S.L.G.N.-F.)
| | - Sérgio L. G. Nogueira-Filho
- Applied Ethology Laboratory, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil; (A.F.d.L.); (S.G.C.L.); (S.L.G.N.-F.)
| | - Suzanne D. E. Held
- Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1QU, UK; (S.D.E.H.); (M.M.)
| | - Michael Mendl
- Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1QU, UK; (S.D.E.H.); (M.M.)
| | - Selene S. C. Nogueira
- Applied Ethology Laboratory, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45662-900, BA, Brazil; (A.F.d.L.); (S.G.C.L.); (S.L.G.N.-F.)
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Altino VS, Rezende DCB, Nogueira SSC, Aldrigui LG, Roldan M, Duarte JMB, Fureix C, Mendl M, Nogueira-Filho SLG. Validation of complementary non-invasive tools for stress assessment in spotted paca ( Cuniculus paca). Anim Welf 2023; 32:e54. [PMID: 38487411 PMCID: PMC10936349 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2023.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Monitoring the concentration of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) in faecal samples is a non-invasive tool for physiological stress evaluation, particularly useful when studying wild species. However, both negative and positive stimuli (distress and eustress, respectively) can lead to a rise in glucocorticoids. Thus, besides validating whether GCM concentration in faeces reflects endogenous adrenal activity, we also need to identify behavioural indicators of distress to avoid misinterpretation. Therefore, we submitted four adult male spotted pacas (Cuniculus paca) to an exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge-test in a Latin square design (4 × 4) to monitor changes in the GCM concentration in faeces. We also aimed to describe behaviours potentially indicative of distress. We collected excreted faeces and video-recorded the animals' behaviours for five consecutive days, one day before and four days after application of the following four treatments: 1st control (no-handling); 2nd control (intra-muscular [IM] injection of saline solution); low-dose ACTH (IM injection of 0.18 ml ACTH); and high-dose ACTH (IM injection of 0.37 ml ACTH). There was a peak in the concentration of GCM in faeces collected 24 h after the injection of the high-dose ACTH treatment. Additionally, independent of the treatments, spotted pacas spent less time on exploration and feeding states, while spending more time in the inactive but awake (IBA) state following the treatment application (challenge day). The use of GCM concentration in faecal samples together with the behavioural changes (less exploration and feeding, and more IBA) showed to be efficient as a non-invasive tool for welfare assessment of farmed spotted paca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa S Altino
- Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz Rod. Jorge Amado, km 16, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, 45662-900
| | - Darília CB Rezende
- Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz Rod. Jorge Amado, km 16, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, 45662-900
| | - Selene SC Nogueira
- Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz Rod. Jorge Amado, km 16, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, 45662-900
| | - Letícia G Aldrigui
- Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz Rod. Jorge Amado, km 16, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, 45662-900
| | - Mar Roldan
- Núcleo de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cervídeos, Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV-UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José MB Duarte
- Núcleo de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cervídeos, Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV-UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carole Fureix
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, UK
| | - Michael Mendl
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, UK
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Lima AF, Lima SG, Nogueira-Filho SL, Held S, Paul E, Mendl M, Nogueira SS. Vocal expression of emotions in farmed spotted paca (Cuniculus paca). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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