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Carbajal A, Hua-Monclús J, Serres-Corral P, Lobató I, Muñoz-Baquero M, López-Béjar M. Toward the validation of an alternative method for endocrine monitoring in sharks: insights from testosterone analyses in the skin of bycatch individuals. Integr Zool 2024. [PMID: 39016105 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
The present study presents a new technique for measuring steroid hormones in shark skin. Results reveal for the first time that shark skin contains measurable levels of testosterone and that levels can be reliably measured by enzyme immunoassay. We identify the mass threshold below which samples should not be used to avoid inconsistent hormone data and highlight the importance of considering body location when designing future collection protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annaïs Carbajal
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jana Hua-Monclús
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Serres-Corral
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Lobató
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Muñoz-Baquero
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunidad Valenciana, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Alfara del Patriarca, Spain
| | - Manel López-Béjar
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Kapustka J, Budzyńska M, Staniszewska P, Strachecka A, Staniszewski A, Wojtaś J. The influence of selected factors on wool cortisol concentration in alpacas (Vicugna pacos). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 350:114474. [PMID: 38373464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114474] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Several internal and external factors can influence animals' hormonal activity. Cortisol level in hair and wool determines chronic stress, which is connected with the long-term HPA axis effect. Wool cortisol levels in alpacas have never been determined to this time. The study aimed to assess the influence of selected factors on wool cortisol concentration in alpacas. The study included 36 alpacas. Wool samples were collected during shearing in June 2021, cut with an electric clipper from the right shoulder and the rump. Wool samples were fragmented into proximal (winter-spring regrowth) and distal (summer-fall regrowth) segments. Alpacas' Heat Stress Index (HSI) for the summer of 2020 was 139.4, and 116 for the winter of 2021. The cortisol levels in the wool samples were determined with the General Cortisol ELISA Kit assay. The most significant differences in wool cortisol concentrations were caused by two factors: the wool segment (P < 0.001; η2 = 0.889) and the region on the body (P < 0.001; η2 = 0.876). Wool cortisol level was higher in the distal segment (referring to the summer-fall season) than in the proximal one (referring to the winter-spring season). It is suggested that alpacas can feel heat stress in summer (HSI = 139.4), which could influence higher cortisol levels in the distal segment. The wool cortisol level was higher in the rump samples than the shoulder ones. Therefore, it is essential in future studies that wool samples from all tested animals should be completed from the same body region. Differences among age and sex groups were also observed. Wool cortisol level was higher in older animals, as differences between age groups were observed in samples from the rump in the distal and proximal segments (distal, the rump younger*older: P < 0.001; η2 = 0.321; proximal, the rump older*younger: P = 0.007; η2 = 0.195). Males showed higher cortisol levels than females, as a difference between sexes was observed in samples from the rump in the proximal segment (P = 0.001, η2 = 0.271). This study emphasizes that various factors may significantly influence wool cortisol levels, which can be helpful in alpacas' welfare estimation using this hormonal indicator as a noninvasive long-term stress assessment method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kapustka
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Monika Budzyńska
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Patrycja Staniszewska
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Doświadczalna 50a, 20-280 Lublin, Poland
| | - Aneta Strachecka
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Doświadczalna 50a, 20-280 Lublin, Poland
| | - Adam Staniszewski
- Department of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Skromna 8, 20-704, Lublin, Poland
| | - Justyna Wojtaś
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
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Veloso-Frías J, Soto-Gamboa M, Mastromonaco G, Acosta-Jamett G. Seasonal Hair Glucocorticoid Fluctuations in Wild Mice ( Phyllotis darwini) within a Semi-Arid Landscape in North-Central Chile. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1260. [PMID: 38731264 PMCID: PMC11083726 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammals in drylands face environmental challenges exacerbated by climate change. Currently, human activity significantly impacts these environments, and its effects on the energy demands experienced by individuals have not yet been determined. Energy demand in organisms is managed through elevations in glucocorticoid levels, which also vary with developmental and health states. Here, we assessed how anthropization, individual characteristics, and seasonality influence hair glucocorticoid concentration in the Darwin's leaf-eared mouse (Phyllotis darwini) inhabiting two areas with contrasting anthropogenic intervention in a semi-arid ecosystem of northern Chile. Hair samples were collected (n = 199) to quantify hair corticosterone concentration (HCC) using enzyme immunoassays; additionally, sex, body condition, and ectoparasite load were recorded. There were no differences in HCC between anthropized areas and areas protected from human disturbance; however, higher concentrations were recorded in females, and seasonal fluctuations were experienced by males. The results indicate that animals inhabiting semi-arid ecosystems are differentially stressed depending on their sex. Additionally, sex and season have a greater impact on corticosterone concentration than anthropogenic perturbation, possibly including temporal factors, precipitation, and primary production. The influence of sex and seasonality on HCC in P. darwini make it necessary to include these variables in future stress assessments of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseline Veloso-Frías
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Austral University of Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile;
| | - Mauricio Soto-Gamboa
- Institute of Environmental and Evolutionary Sciences, Austral University of Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile;
| | | | - Gerardo Acosta-Jamett
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Austral University of Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile;
- Center for Surveillance and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (CSEID), Austral University of Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
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Newediuk L, Mastromonaco GF, Vander Wal E. Associations between glucocorticoids and habitat selection reflect daily and seasonal energy requirements. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:30. [PMID: 38649956 PMCID: PMC11036748 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00475-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoids are often associated with stressful environments, but they are also thought to drive the best strategies to improve fitness in stressful environments. Glucocorticoids improve fitness in part by regulating foraging behaviours in response to daily and seasonal energy requirements. However, many studies demonstrating relationships between foraging behaviour and glucocorticoids are experimental, and few observational studies conducted under natural conditions have tested whether changing glucocorticoid levels are related to daily and seasonal changes in energy requirements. METHODS We integrated glucocorticoids into habitat selection models to test for relationships between foraging behaviour and glucocorticoid levels in elk (Cervus canadensis) as their daily and seasonal energy requirements changed. Using integrated step selection analysis, we tested whether elevated glucocorticoid levels were related to foraging habitat selection on a daily scale and whether that relationship became stronger during lactation, one of the greatest seasonal periods of energy requirement for female mammals. RESULTS We found stronger selection of foraging habitat by female elk with elevated glucocorticoids (eß = 1.44 95% CI 1.01, 2.04). We found no difference in overall glucocorticoid levels after calving, nor a significant change in the relationship between glucocorticoids and foraging habitat selection at the time of calving. However, we found a gradual increase in the relationship between glucocorticoids and habitat selection by female elk as their calves grew over the next few months (eß = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00, 1.02), suggesting a potentially stronger physiological effect of glucocorticoids for elk with increasing energy requirements. CONCLUSIONS We suggest glucocorticoid-integrated habitat selection models demonstrate the role of glucocorticoids in regulating foraging responses to daily and seasonal energy requirements. Ultimately, this integration will help elucidate the implications of elevated glucocorticoids under natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi Newediuk
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's Newfoundland, A1B 3X9, Canada.
- Current address: Biological Sciences Department, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada.
| | | | - Eric Vander Wal
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's Newfoundland, A1B 3X9, Canada
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Levallois P, Leblanc-Maridor M, Lehébel A, Gavaud S, Lieubeau B, Hervé J, Fourichon C, Belloc C. Hair cortisol concentration in finishing pigs on commercial farms: variability between pigs, batches, and farms. Front Vet Sci 2024; 10:1298756. [PMID: 38317789 PMCID: PMC10839108 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1298756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Hair cortisol is a stress indicator and could be used to assess the pigs' exposure to stressors in the weeks/months prior to non-invasive hair sampling. The main aim of this study was to describe the hair cortisol concentration (HCC) variability between individuals within a batch, between farms and between batches within a farm. The secondary aim was to determine how the number of sampled pigs influences the characterization of HCC within a batch. Twenty farrow-to-finish pig farms were recruited considering the diversity of their management practices and health status (data collected). Hair was sampled in two separate batches, 8 months apart. The necks of 24 finishing pigs were clipped per batch the week prior to slaughter. To describe the variability in HCC, an analysis of the variance model was run with three explanatory variables (batch, farm and their interaction). To identify farm clusters, a principal component analysis followed by a hierarchical clustering was carried out with four active variables (means and standard deviations of the two batches per farm) and 17 supplementary variables (management practices, herd health data). We determined how the number of sampled pigs influenced the characterization of HCC within a batch by selecting subsamples of the results. HCC ranged from 0.4 to 121.6 pg/mg, with a mean of 25.9 ± 16.2 pg/mg. The variability in HCC was mainly explained by differences between pigs (57%), then between farms (24%), between batches within the same farm (16%) and between batches (3%). Three clusters of farms were identified: low homogeneous concentrations (n = 3 farms), heterogeneous concentrations with either higher (n = 7) or lower (n = 10) HCC in batch 2 than in batch 1. The diversity of management practices and health statuses allowed to discuss hypotheses explaining the HCC variations observed. We highlighted the need to sample more than 24 pigs to characterize HCC in a pig batch. HCC differences between batches on six farms suggest sampling pigs in more than one batch to describe the HCC at the farm level. HCC variations described here confirm the need to study its links with exposure of pigs to stressors.
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Barboza PS, Shively RD, Thompson DP. Robust Responses of Female Caribou to Changes in Food Supply. ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 97:29-52. [PMID: 38717369 DOI: 10.1086/729668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
AbstractUngulates can respond to changes in food supply by altering foraging behavior, digestive function, and metabolism. A multifaceted response to an environmental change is considered robust. Short seasons of plant growth make herbivores sensitive to changes in food supply because maintenance and production must be accomplished in less time with fewer options in a more fragile response. Caribou live at high latitudes where short summers constrain their response to changes in food supply. We measured the ability of female caribou to resist and tolerate changes in the quality and quantity of their food supply during winter and summer. Caribou resisted changes in food abundance and quality by changing food intake and physical activity with changes in daily temperature within each season. Peak food intake rose by 134% from winter pregnancy to summer lactation (98 vs. 229 g kg-0.75 d-1), as digestible requirements to maintain the body increased by 85% for energy (1,164 vs. 2,155 kJ kg-0.75 d-1) and by 266% for N (0.79 vs. 2.89 g N kg-0.75 d-1). Caribou required a diet with a digestible content of 12 kJ g-1 and 0.8% N in pregnancy, 18 kJ g-1 and 1.9% N in early lactation, and 11 kJ g-1 and 1.2% N in late lactation, which corresponds with the phenology of the wild diet. Female caribou tolerated restriction of ad lib. food intake to 58% of their energy requirement (680 vs. 1,164 kJ kg-0.75 d-1) during winter pregnancy and to 84% of their energy requirement (1,814 vs. 2,155 kJ kg-0.75 d-1) during summer lactation without a change in stress level, as indicated by fecal corticosterone concentration. Conversely, caribou can respond to increased availability of food with a spare capacity to process digestible energy and N at 123% (2,642 vs. 2,155 kJ kg-0.75 d-1) and 145% (4.20 vs. 2.89 g N kg-0.75 d-1) of those respective requirements during lactation. Robust responses to changes in food supply allow caribou to sustain reproduction, which would buffer demographic response. However, herds may decline when thresholds of behavioral resistance and physiological tolerance are frequently exceeded. Therefore, the challenge for managing declining populations of caribou and other robust species is to identify declines in robustness before their response becomes fragile.
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Doss EM, Jouffroy M, Rey B, Cohas A, von Hardenberg A, Smith TE. Technical validation and a comparison of two methods to quantify individual levels of glucocorticoids in Alpine marmot hair. MethodsX 2023; 11:102418. [PMID: 37846357 PMCID: PMC10577059 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantification of cortisol concentration in hair has become a promising conservation tool for non-invasive monitoring of "stress" in wild populations, yet this method needs to be carefully validated for each species. The goals of the study were:•Immunologically validate two methods (study 1 and 2 respectively) to extract and quantify cortisol in the hair of wild Alpine marmots.•Compare the amount of cortisol extracted from hair samples using two methods i.e. cut into fine pieces (study 1) and hair samples pulverized using a ball mill (study 2).•Determine the extent to which methods in study 2 could provide individual specific hair cortisol (HC) measures when samples were taken from the same body location. Within and between individual variations in HC levels were examined from multiple hair samples from 14 subjects in study 2. We evaluated if inter-individual variations in HC levels could be explained by sex and age.At least twice the amount of cortisol was obtained per g/hair when samples were pulverized in a ball mill prior to extraction compared to when cut into pieces. Our methods demonstrated intra-individual consistency in HC at a given time point: inter-individual variation in HC was three times larger than within individual variance. Sex and age did not impact HC levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Marielle Doss
- University of Chester, Conservation Biology Research Group, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - Mathilde Jouffroy
- University of Chester, Conservation Biology Research Group, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Université de Lyon, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, Université Lyon1, UMR-CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Aurélie Cohas
- Université de Lyon, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, Université Lyon1, UMR-CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Achaz von Hardenberg
- University of Chester, Conservation Biology Research Group, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - Tessa Ellen Smith
- University of Chester, Conservation Biology Research Group, Chester, United Kingdom
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Aguilar XF, Leclerc LM, Mavrot F, Roberto-Charron A, Tomaselli M, Mastromonaco G, Gunn A, Pruvot M, Rothenburger JL, Thanthrige-Don N, Jahromi EZ, Kutz S. An integrative and multi-indicator approach for wildlife health applied to an endangered caribou herd. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16524. [PMID: 37783688 PMCID: PMC10545743 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41689-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Assessing wildlife health in remote regions requires a multi-faceted approach, which commonly involves convenient samplings and the need of identifying and targeting relevant and informative indicators. We applied a novel wildlife health framework and critically assessed the value of different indicators for understanding the health status and trends of an endangered tundra caribou population. Samples and data from the Dolphin and Union caribou herd were obtained between 2015 and 2021, from community-based surveillance programs and from captured animals. We documented and categorized indicators into health determinants (infectious diseases and trace elements), processes (cortisol, pathology), and health outcomes (pregnancy and body condition). During a recent period of steep population decline, our results indicated a relatively good body condition and pregnancy rates, and decreasing levels of stress, along with a low adult cow survival. We detected multiple factors as potential contributors to the reduced survival, including Brucella suis biovar 4, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and lower hair trace minerals. These results remark the need of targeted studies to improve detection and investigations on caribou mortalities. We also identified differences in health indicators between captured and hunter sampled caribou, highlighting the importance of accounting for sampling biases. This integrative approach that drew on multiple data sources has provided unprecedented knowledge on the health in this herd and highlights the value of documenting individual animal health to understand causes of wildlife declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Fernandez Aguilar
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Lisa-Marie Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 377, Kugluktuk, NU, X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Fabien Mavrot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Amélie Roberto-Charron
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 377, Kugluktuk, NU, X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Matilde Tomaselli
- Polar Knowledge Canada, Canadian High Arctic Research Station, 1 Uvajuq Road, PO Box 2150, Cambridge Bay, NU, X0B 0C0, Canada
| | | | - Anne Gunn
- CircumArctic Rangifer Monitoring and Assessment (CARMA) Network, 368 Roland Rad, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 1V1, Canada
| | - Mathieu Pruvot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region), Alberta, Canada
| | - Niroshan Thanthrige-Don
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Laboratory Fallowfield, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Station H, PO Box 11300, Nepean, ON, K2H 8P9, Canada
| | - Elham Zeini Jahromi
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
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Colding-Jørgensen P, Hestehave S, Abelson KSP, Kalliokoski O. Hair glucocorticoids are not a historical marker of stress - Exploring the time-scale of corticosterone incorporation into hairs in a rat model. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 341:114335. [PMID: 37302763 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Hair glucocorticoids are increasingly popular biomarkers, used across numerous research fields, and studied species, as a measure of stress. Although they are suggested to be a proxy of the average HPA axis activity spanning a period of weeks or months into the past, this theory has never been tested. In the present study, adrenalectomized rats with no endogenous (adrenal) glucocorticoid production were used to study how circulating glucocorticoid levels would be reflected in the glucocorticoid levels found in hair samples. By dosing the animals daily with high levels of corticosterone for seven days, while sampling hairs before, during, and after treatments, a timeline for glucocorticoid uptake into hairs was constructed. This kinetic profile was compared to two hypothetical models, and the theory that hair glucocorticoids are a record of historical stress had to be rejected. Corticosterone concentrations in hairs were found to increase within three hours of the first injection, the highest concentrations were found on the seventh day of treatments, and the decrease in concentrations post-treatment suggests rapid elimination. We speculate that hair glucocorticoid levels can only be used to characterize a stress-response for a few days following a postulated stressor. An updated model, where glucocorticoids diffuse into, along, and out of hairs needs to be adopted to reconcile the experimentally obtained data. The inescapable consequence of this updated model is that hair glucocorticoids become a marker of - and can only be used to study - recent, or ongoing, stress, as opposed to historical events, weeks or months in the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pernille Colding-Jørgensen
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sara Hestehave
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Klas S P Abelson
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Otto Kalliokoski
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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10
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Medill SA, Janz DM, McLoughlin PD. Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Feral Horses and the Influence of Physiological and Social Factors. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2133. [PMID: 37443930 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone produced during activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) in response to psychological or physiological demands. High amounts of circulating cortisol can be found in individuals experiencing energetically demanding physiological events, such as pregnancy, lactation, injury, or starvation, but, also, in individuals who may have less obvious HPA activation from social situations. The feral horse population on Sable Island (Nova Scotia, Canada) provides an opportunity to look at hair cortisol concentration (HCC) as a proxy for circulating cortisol concentration to better understand physiological correlates. The horse's complex social structure also allows us to look at how the population and group structure may influence HPA activation. Hair samples (n = 282) were analyzed from 113 females and 135 males. Females with dependent offspring (foals) had higher HCC than those females without dependent offspring (p = 0.005). Horses in poor body condition were also more likely to have higher HCC (females: p < 0.001, males: p = 0.028); females had greater variation in the body condition index (BCI), which also correlated with foal production. In general, the top-ranked models describing female cortisol levels included age, BCI, presence of a foal, as well as social measures such as harem size and the number of bachelors in the vicinity. The top model describing male cortisol levels included age, BCI, and year of collection only, and the number of bachelors in the home range appeared in subsequent, though still high-ranked, models. Among the variables not of direct interest, we found some significant results relating to hair color and hair texture. Differences in HCC patterns between feral and domestically kept horses (e.g., age and sex) are likely linked to periods of resource limitations, particularly for individuals experiencing energetically demanding processes such as reproduction, illness/parasitism, or related to experiencing the full range of social and reproductive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Medill
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
| | - David M Janz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Philip D McLoughlin
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
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11
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Rakic F, Fernandez-Aguilar X, Pruvot M, Whiteside DP, Mastromonaco GF, Leclerc LM, Jutha N, Kutz SJ. Variation of hair cortisol in two herds of migratory caribou ( Rangifer tarandus): implications for health monitoring. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad030. [PMID: 37228297 PMCID: PMC10203588 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus sspp.) is an ecotype of conservation concern that is experiencing increased cumulative stressors associated with rapid climate change and development in Arctic Canada. Increasingly, hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) are being used to monitor seasonal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity of ungulate populations; yet, the effect of key covariates for caribou (sex, season, sampling source, body location) are largely unknown. The objectives of this research were 4-fold: first, we assessed the impact of body location (neck, rump) sampling sites on HCC; second, we assessed key covariates (sex, sampling method, season) impacting HCCs of caribou; third, we investigated inter-population (Dolphin and Union (DU), Bluenose-East (BNE)) and inter-annual differences in HCC and fourth, we examined the association between HCCs and indices of biting insect activity on the summer range (oestrid index, mosquito index). We examined hair from 407 DU and BNE caribou sampled by harvesters or during capture-collaring operations from 2012 to 2020. Linear mixed-effect models were used to assess the effect of body location on HCC and generalized least squares regression (GLS) models were used to examine the impacts of key covariates, year and herd and indices of biting insect harassment. HCC varied significantly by body location, year, herd and source of samples (harvester vs capture). HCC was higher in samples taken from the neck and in the DU herd compared with the BNE, decreased linearly over time and was higher in captured versus hunted animals (P < 0.05). There was no difference in HCC between sexes, and indices of biting insect harassment in the previous year were not significantly associated with HCC. This study identifies essential covariates impacting the HCC of caribou that must be accounted for in sampling, monitoring and data interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Rakic
- Corresponding author: Department of Ecosystem and Public Health – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary; 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada.
| | - X Fernandez-Aguilar
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary; 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - M Pruvot
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary; 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - D P Whiteside
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary; 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
| | - G F Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Sciences Unit, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, M1B 5K7
| | - L M Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 377, Kugluktuk, Nunavut, Canada, X0B 0E0
| | - N Jutha
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, 5112 52 st, Yellowknife, The Northwest Territories, Canada, X1A 2L9
| | - S J Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary; 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6
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12
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Franchini M, Peric T, Frangini L, Prandi A, Comin A, Rota M, Filacorda S. You're stressing me out! Effect of interspecific competition from red deer on roe deer physiological stress response. J Zool (1987) 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Franchini
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
| | - T. Peric
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
| | - L. Frangini
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
| | - A. Prandi
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
| | - A. Comin
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
| | - M. Rota
- Facultat de Cièncias i Tecnologia Universitat de Vic‐Universitat Central de Catalunya Vic Spain
| | - S. Filacorda
- Department of Agri‐Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy
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13
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Babic NL, Johnstone CP, Reljić S, Sergiel A, Huber Đ, Reina RD. Evaluation of physiological stress in free-ranging bears: current knowledge and future directions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:168-190. [PMID: 36176191 PMCID: PMC10086944 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12902] [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: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Stress responses, which are mediated by the neurogenic system (NS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis help vertebrates maintain physiological homeostasis. Fight-or-flight responses are activated by the NS, which releases norepinephrine/noradrenaline and epinephrine/adrenaline in response to immediate stressors, whilst the HPA axis releases glucocorticoid hormones (e.g. cortisol and corticosterone) to help mitigate allostatic load. There have been many studies on stress responses of captive animals, but they are not truly reflective of typical ranges or the types of stressors encountered by free-ranging wildlife, such as responses and adaptation to environmental change, which are particularly important from a conservation perspective. As stress can influence the composition of age and sex classes of free-ranging populations both directly and indirectly, ecological research must be prioritised towards more vulnerable taxa. Generally, large predators tend to be particularly at risk of anthropogenically driven population declines because they exhibit reduced behavioural plasticity required to adapt to changing landscapes and exist in reduced geographic ranges, have small population sizes, low fecundity rates, large spatial requirements and occupy high trophic positions. As a keystone species with a long history of coexistence with humans in highly anthropogenic landscapes, there has been growing concern about how humans influence bear behaviour and physiology, via numerous short- and long-term stressors. In this review, we synthesise research on the stress response in free-ranging bear populations and evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of current methodology in measuring stress in bears to identify the most effective metrics for future research. Particularly, we integrate research that utilised haematological variables, cardiac monitors and Global Positioning System (GPS) collars, serum/plasma and faecal glucocorticoid concentrations, hair cortisol levels, and morphological metrics (primarily skulls) to investigate the stress response in ursids in both short- and long-term contexts. We found that in free-ranging bears, food availability and consumption have the greatest influence on individual stress, with mixed responses to anthropogenic influences. Effects of sex and age on stress are also mixed, likely attributable to inconsistent methods. We recommend that methodology across all stress indicators used in free-ranging bears should be standardised to improve interpretation of results and that a wider range of species should be incorporated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natarsha L Babic
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher P Johnstone
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, Krakow, 31120, Poland
| | - Đuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.,Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, Krakow, 31120, Poland
| | - Richard D Reina
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia
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14
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Karaer MC, Čebulj-Kadunc N, Snoj T. Stress in wildlife: comparison of the stress response among domestic, captive, and free-ranging animals. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1167016. [PMID: 37138925 PMCID: PMC10150102 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1167016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The stress response, which involves joint activity of the nervous and endocrine systems, is one of the basic adaptive mechanisms that ensures the survival of the individual. The activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary axis, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis enables organisms to respond to endogenous and exogenous challenges. Repeated short-term stress leads to long-term stress, which disrupts physiological homeostasis. Unlike domestic animals, wild animals are not protected from environmental and weather influences or treated for diseases. In addition, climate change, habitat fragmentation and loss, and urban stressors (such as light, noise and chemical pollution; xenobiotics; traffic; and buildings) affect individual wildlife and populations. In this review, we have attempted to depict the magnitude of the stress response in wildlife and related domestic animals as well as in captive and free-ranging animals. The intensity of the stress response can be estimated by determining the concentration of glucocorticoids in body fluids, tissues, and excreta. A comparison of results from different studies suggests that domestic animals have lower fecal and hair glucocorticoid concentrations than related wild animals. Additionally, fecal and hair glucocorticoid concentrations in captive animals are higher than in free-ranging animals of the same species. As there are limited data on this topic, we cannot draw definitive conclusions about glucocorticoid concentration and stress response. Further studies are needed to clarify these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Cansu Karaer
- Food and Agriculture Vocational School, Çankiri Karatekin University, Çankiri, Türkiye
| | - Nina Čebulj-Kadunc
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Preclinical Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tomaž Snoj
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Preclinical Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- *Correspondence: Tomaž Snoj
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15
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Fokidis HB, Brock T, Newman C, Macdonald DW, Buesching CD. Assessing chronic stress in wild mammals using claw-derived cortisol: a validation using European badgers ( Meles meles). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad024. [PMID: 37179707 PMCID: PMC10171820 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Measuring stress experienced by wild mammals is increasingly important in the context of human-induced rapid environmental change and initiatives to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. Glucocorticoids (GC), such as cortisol, mediate responses by promoting physiological adjustments during environmental perturbations. Measuring cortisol is a popular technique; however, this often reveals only recent short-term stress such as that incurred by restraining the animal to sample blood, corrupting the veracity of this approach. Here we present a protocol using claw cortisol, compared with hair cortisol, as a long-term stress bio-indicator, which circumvents this constraint, where claw tissue archives the individual's GC concentration over preceding weeks. We then correlate our findings against detailed knowledge of European badger life history stressors. Based on a solid-phase extraction method, we assessed how claw cortisol concentrations related to season and badger sex, age and body-condition using a combination of generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) (n = 668 samples from 273 unique individuals) followed by finer scale mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM) (n = 152 re-captured individuals). Claw and hair cortisol assays achieved high accuracy, precision and repeatability, with similar sensitivity. The top GLMM model for claw cortisol included age, sex, season and the sex*season interaction. Overall, claw cortisol levels were significantly higher among males than females, but strongly influenced by season, where females had higher levels than males in autumn. The top fine scale MMRM model included sex, age and body condition, with claw cortisol significantly higher in males, older and thinner individuals. Hair cortisol was more variable than claw; nevertheless, there was a positive correlation after removing 34 outliers. We discuss strong support for these stress-related claw cortisol patterns from previous studies of badger biology. Given the potential of this technique, we conclude that it has broad application in conservation biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Bobby Fokidis
- Corresponding author: Department of Biology, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, USA.
| | - Taylor Brock
- Department of Biology, Rollins College, 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789-4499, USA
| | - Chris Newman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abindgon Rd, Tubney, OX13 5QL, UK
| | - David W Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abindgon Rd, Tubney, OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Christina D Buesching
- Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus, 3187 University Way, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V1V7, Canada
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16
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Cotticelli A, Verde MT, Matera R, Pividori I, Prandi A, Neglia G, Peric T. Validation of a radioimmunoassay method for cortisol in buffalo milk whey. A preparatory step for future sensor technology. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2022.2147868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Cotticelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Verde
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria elettrica e delle Tecnologie dell’Informazione, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Matera
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Isabella Pividori
- Dipartimento di Scienze agroalimentari ambientali e animali, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, Udine, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Dipartimento di Scienze agroalimentari ambientali e animali, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, Udine, Italy
| | - Gianluca Neglia
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Tanja Peric
- Dipartimento di Scienze agroalimentari ambientali e animali, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, Udine, Italy
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17
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Saluti G, Ricci M, Castellani F, Colagrande MN, Di Bari G, Vulpiani MP, Cerasoli F, Savini G, Scortichini G, D'Alterio N. Determination of hair cortisol in horses: comparison of immunoassay vs LC-HRMS/MS. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:8093-8105. [PMID: 36136115 PMCID: PMC9613578 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04343-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The measure of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is becoming an emerging approach to monitor mid-/long-term stress in animals, so it is more and more important to develop accurate and reliable methods. In the light of this, the aim of the present study was to compare mane HCCs of 47 horses with different managements, by means of an immunoassay (ELISA) and liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). After the washing step, the ground hair was extracted with methanol. The extract was evaporated and redissolved in two different aqueous solutions, depending on the detection technique. The methods were validated according to EMA guideline for bioanalytical method validation, in the range 2–50 pg mg−1 (ELISA) and 1–100 pg mg−1 (LC-HRMS/MS). Satisfactory quantitative performances were obtained for both of the approaches, but this latter demonstrated better precision. The detected concentrations in real samples were encompassing the range 1.3–8.8 pg mg−1 and 2.0–17.9 pg mg−1 by means of LC-HRMS/MS and ELISA, respectively. Overall, HCCs measured with ELISA technique were 1.6 times higher. The overestimation of immunoassay results might be caused by cross-reactivity phenomena of laboratory reagents and other structurally similar hormones present in the mane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Saluti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Dell'Abruzzo E del Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
| | - Matteo Ricci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Dell'Abruzzo E del Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Castellani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Dell'Abruzzo E del Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Maria Novella Colagrande
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Dell'Abruzzo E del Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Gabriella Di Bari
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Podaliri Vulpiani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Dell'Abruzzo E del Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Francesco Cerasoli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Dell'Abruzzo E del Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Dell'Abruzzo E del Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giampiero Scortichini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Dell'Abruzzo E del Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Nicola D'Alterio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Dell'Abruzzo E del Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
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18
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Lelláková M, Lešková L, Florián M, Mesarčová L, Skurková L, Peťková B, Takáčová D, Kottferová J. Cortisol concentration in horsehair and its relationship to body location, coat colour, and gender. J Equine Vet Sci 2022; 115:104010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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19
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Hair cortisol concentration reflects the life cycle and management of grey wolves across four European populations. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5697. [PMID: 35383239 PMCID: PMC8982655 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09711-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The grey wolf (Canis lupus) persists in a variety of human-dominated landscapes and is subjected to various legal management regimes throughout Europe. Our aim was to assess the effects of intrinsic and methodological determinants on the hair cortisol concentration (HCC) of wolves from four European populations under different legal management. We determined HCC by an enzyme-linked immune assay in 259 hair samples of 133 wolves from the Iberian, Alpine, Dinaric-Balkan, and Scandinavian populations. The HCC showed significant differences between body regions. Mean HCC in lumbar guard hair was 11.6 ± 9.7 pg/mg (range 1.6–108.8 pg/mg). Wolves from the Dinaric-Balkan and Scandinavian populations showed significantly higher HCC than Iberian wolves, suggesting that harvest policies could reflected in the level of chronic stress. A significant negative relationship with body size was found. The seasonal, sex and age patterns are consistent with other studies, supporting HCC as a biomarker of chronic stress in wolves for a retrospective time frame of several weeks. Our results highlight the need for standardization of sampling and analytical techniques to ensure the value of HCC in informing management at a continental scale.
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20
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Probo M, Peric T, Fusi J, Prandi A, Faustini M, Veronesi MC. Hair cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations in healthy beef calves from birth to 6 months of age. Theriogenology 2021; 175:89-94. [PMID: 34517287 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cortisol (C) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are recognized as the main fetal steroids, and they are likely to influence fetal development and have long-term effects on newborn hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) function. DHEA is often measured as its sulfates and expressed as DHEA-S. Hair analysis represents a promising methodological approach for the non-invasive measurement of steroids, allowing for a retrospective analysis of the total exposure to steroids over time, and avoiding the influence of acute events or circadian fluctuations. Hair cortisol and DHEA concentrations have been investigated in cows, but no studies have been performed on calves. The object of this study was to evaluate hair cortisol (HC) and hair DHEA-S (HDHEA-S) concentrations in beef calves from birth to six months of age. Hair samples of 12 beef calves (seven males, five females) were firstly collected at birth (T1) and then every three weeks up to six months of age (T2-T10), collecting only the re-grown hair. HC and HDHEA-S were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Calves sex, weight and APGAR score were registered immediately after birth. Statistical analysis revealed that both HC and HDHEA-S were influenced by sampling time (P < 0.001). HC concentrations were higher at T1 compared to all subsequent samplings (T2-T10, P < 0.01); HC concentrations were higher at T2 compared to T4-T10 (P < 0.01), while no further changes were detected from T3 onward. Higher HDHEA-S concentrations were registered at T1, T2 and T3 compared to all the other samplings (P < 0.01). No correlation was found between hair concentrations of both steroids and calf sex or birthweight. APGAR score was negatively correlated only with HC at birth (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that C and DHEA-S are quantifiable in the hair of calves and are influenced by their age. The higher HC detected at birth (T1) probably reflects the high serum C concentrations present late in pregnancy and increased by the fetal HPA axis, by which parturition is initiated in cows. The highest HDHEA-S at birth (T1) in calves indicates that the largest amounts of DHEA and its sulfates are produced during fetal development. Moreover, the findings of higher HC at three weeks after birth and of higher HDHEA-S until six weeks after birth, suggest that C and DHEA secretion continues also beyond birth, and that these steroids could be involved in the events occurring during the challenging first weeks of age in the calf.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Probo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - T Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - J Fusi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy.
| | - A Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - M Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - M C Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
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21
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Hein A, Baumgartner K, von Fersen L, Bechshoft T, Woelfing B, Kirschbaum C, Mastromonaco G, Greenwood AD, Siebert U. Analysis of hair steroid hormones in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: comparison with two immunoassays and application for longitudinal monitoring in zoos. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 310:113837. [PMID: 34181933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) is a promising method for monitoring long-term stress in mammals. However, previous measurements of HCCs in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) have yielded highly variable results, which are likely due to different methodological approaches. In this study, hair samples of zoo-housed polar bears were analyzed for cortisol with two independent immunoassays [an enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) and a chemiluminescence assay (CLIA)] and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). HCC measurements depended significantly on assay type applied, sample processing (cutting vs. powdering hair) and their interaction. Best agreement was observed between LC-MS/MS and CLIA (R2 = 0.81 for powdered hair) and sample processing had a minor, albeit significant, effect on obtained HCC measurements in these assays (R2 > 0.9). EIA measurements were consistently higher than with the other assays. HCC measurement was validated biologically for CLIA and LC-MS/MS in one male polar bear that experienced considerable stress for a prolonged period of time (> 18 weeks). Subsequently, by using the validated LC-MS/MS the measurement of cortisol could be complemented by the analysis of other steroids including cortisone, testosterone and progesterone levels from hair samples collected over a 9-month period (5-13 months) from six zoo-housed polar bears (five males, one female). No seasonal steroid variation was observed except in male progesterone levels. For all steroids except cortisone, a strong body region effect (neck or paw) was observed. Cortisol and cortisone, as well as progesterone and testosterone, concentrations were positively correlated. We show that hair steroid concentrations can be used to longitudinally measure stress and reproductive hormone axes in polar bears. The data established herein provide important basic information regarding methodology and study design for assessing hair steroid hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Hein
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | - Thea Bechshoft
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Benno Woelfing
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Department of Biopsychology, Technical University of Dresden, Zellescher Weg 19, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Alex D Greenwood
- Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
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22
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Dillon D, Fernández Ajó A, Hunt KE, Buck CL. Investigation of keratinase digestion to improve steroid hormone extraction from diverse keratinous tissues. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 309:113795. [PMID: 33891932 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring the physiology of wild populations presents many technical challenges. Blood samples, long the gold standard of wildlife endocrinology studies, cannot always be obtained. The validation and use of non-plasma samples to obtain hormone data have greatly improved access to more integrated information about an organism's physiological state. Keratinous tissues like skin, hair, nails, feathers, or baleen store steroid hormones in physiologically relevant concentrations, are stable across decades, and can be used to retrospectively infer physiological state at prior points in time. Most protocols for steroid extraction employ physical pulverization or cutting of the sample, followed by mixing with a solvent. Such methods do produce repeatable and useful data, but low hormone yield and detectability issues can complicate research on small or rare samples. We investigated the use of keratinase, an enzyme that breaks down keratin, to improve the extraction and yield of corticosterone from vertebrate keratin tissues. Corticosterone content of keratinase-digested extracts were compared to non-keratinase extracts for baleen from three species of whale (blue, Balaenoptera musculus; bowhead, Balaena mysticetus; southern right, SRW; Eubalaena australis), shed skin from two reptiles (tegu lizard, Salvator merianae; narrow-headed garter snake, Thamnophis rufipunctatus), hair from arctic ground squirrel (AGS; Urocitellus parryii), feathers from Purple Martins (PUMA; Progne subis), and spines from the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus). We tested four starting masses (10, 25, 50, 100 mg) for each sample; digestion was most complete in the 10 and 25 mg samples. A corticosterone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was validated for all keratinase-digested extracts. In all sample types except shed skin from reptiles, keratinase digestion improved hormone yield, with PUMA feathers and blue whale baleen having the greatest increase in apparent corticosterone content (100% and 66% more hormone, respectively). The reptilian shed skin samples did not benefit from keratinase digestion, actually yielding less hormone than controls. With further optimization and refinement, keratinase digestion could greatly improve yield of steroid hormones from various wildlife epidermal tissue types, allowing more efficient use of samples and ultimately improving understanding of the endocrine physiology of wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Dillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 S. Beaver St., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA.
| | - Alejandro Fernández Ajó
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 S. Beaver St., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA; Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas, Capital Federal, O'Higgins 4380, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1429, Argentina
| | - Kathleen E Hunt
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation & Department of Biology, George Mason University, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - C Loren Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 S. Beaver St., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
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Sandoval-Herrera NI, Mastromonaco GF, Becker DJ, Simmons NB, Welch KC. Inter- and intra-specific variation in hair cortisol concentrations of Neotropical bats. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab053. [PMID: 34267922 PMCID: PMC8278960 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying hair cortisol has become popular in wildlife ecology for its practical advantages for evaluating stress. Before hair cortisol levels can be reliably interpreted, however, it is key to first understand the intrinsic factors explaining intra- and inter-specific variation. Bats are an ecologically diverse group of mammals that allow studying such variation. Given that many bat species are threatened or have declining populations in parts of their range, minimally invasive tools for monitoring colony health and identifying cryptic stressors are needed to efficiently direct conservation efforts. Here we describe intra- and inter-specific sources of variation in hair cortisol levels in 18 Neotropical bat species from Belize and Mexico. We found that fecundity is an important ecological trait explaining inter-specific variation in bat hair cortisol. Other ecological variables such as colony size, roost durability and basal metabolic rate did not explain hair cortisol variation among species. At the individual level, females exhibited higher hair cortisol levels than males and the effect of body mass varied among species. Overall, our findings help validate and accurately apply hair cortisol as a monitoring tool in free-ranging bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia I Sandoval-Herrera
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | | | - Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Nancy B Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024-5102, USA
| | - Kenneth C Welch
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
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24
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Filacorda S, Comin A, Franchini M, Frangini L, Pesaro S, Pezzin EN, Prandi A. Cortisol in Hair: Do Habitat Fragmentation and Competition with Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) Measurably Affect the Long-Term Physiological Response in European Wildcat (Felis silvestris)? ANN ZOOL FENN 2021. [DOI: 10.5735/086.059.0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Filacorda
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Antonella Comin
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Marcello Franchini
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Frangini
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Stefano Pesaro
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Eva Nilanthi Pezzin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, IT-35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, IT-33100 Udine, Italy
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25
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Otsuki M, Horimoto T, Kobayashi M, Morita Y, Ijiri S, Mitani Y. Testosterone levels in hair of free-ranging male northern fur seals ( Callorhinus ursinus) in relation to sampling month, age class and spermatogenesis. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab031. [PMID: 34026214 PMCID: PMC8129824 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Information about the reproductive status of free-ranging pinnipeds provides useful insight into their population dynamics, which is essential to their management and conservation. To determine the reproductive status of individual animals, blood sampling is often required despite being impractical to collect in open water. Hair as an endocrine marker has been used to less invasively assess the reproductive status of terrestrial animals. However, it is unknown whether pinniped reproductive status can be assessed from hair samples. Here, we examine testosterone levels in hair obtained from 57 male northern fur seals and used it to compare their age class and spermatogenesis during the non-breeding season off Hokkaido. We isolated testosterone from the samples using gas chromatography and measured testosterone levels using time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. Testosterone levels in hair increased towards the breeding season. In May, testosterone levels were the highest in seals aged between 4 and 7 years, followed by those over the age of 8 years and under the age of 4 years. Spermatids, the final phase of spermatogenesis, were present in the seals sampled between April and June, even though testosterone levels were low in April. The seals with spermatids in May showed the highest testosterone levels. Our results demonstrate that seals with higher testosterone levels in May are likely to be mature males (≥4 years). Since hair can be collected using biopsy darts in the field, it will be possible to less invasively determine testosterone levels of male seals in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayuko Otsuki
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Hakodate, 0400051, Japan
| | - Takanori Horimoto
- Wakkanai Fisheries Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization, Wakkanai, 0970001, Japan
| | - Motoki Kobayashi
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Hakodate, 0400051, Japan
| | - Yuka Morita
- Institute for East China Sea Research, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 8512213, Japan
| | - Shigeho Ijiri
- Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hakodate, 0418611, Japan
| | - Yoko Mitani
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Hakodate, 0400051, Japan
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26
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Di Francesco J, Mastromonaco GF, Checkley SL, Blake J, Rowell JE, Kutz S. Qiviut cortisol reflects hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 306:113737. [PMID: 33610573 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) are increasingly exposed to a broad diversity of stressors in their rapidly changing Arctic environment. There is an urgent need to develop validated tools to monitor the impact of these stressors on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity of muskoxen to help inform conservation actions. Here, we evaluated whether muskox qiviut (dense wooly undercoat) cortisol accurately reflects changes in HPA axis activity. Two repeated pharmacological challenges, involving weekly administrations of saline (control group) or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) during five consecutive weeks, were done on captive muskoxen, in winter (no hair growth) and summer (maximum hair growth). Pre-challenge qiviut cortisol levels were significantly higher in the shoulder than in the neck, but neither differed from rump concentrations. Qiviut cortisol levels significantly increased (p < 0.001) in response to the administration of ACTH during the hair growth phase, but not in the absence of growth (p = 0.84). Cortisol levels in the qiviut segment grown during the summer challenge increased significantly over a six-month period in the ACTH-injected muskoxen with a similar trend occurring in the control animals. Finally, cortisol levels in shed qiviut were significantly higher and not correlated to those of fully grown qiviut shaved three months earlier. Our results show that cortisol is deposited in qiviut during its growth and that qiviut cortisol can thus be used as an integrated measure of HPA axis activity over the period of the hair's growth. Differences in qiviut cortisol across body regions, significant differences in qiviut segments over time, and differences between shed qiviut versus unshed qiviut, highlight the importance of consistent design and methodology for sample collection and analyses in order to account for sources of variation when using qiviut cortisol as a biomarker of HPA axis activity in muskoxen.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Di Francesco
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada; French Armed Forces Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CESPA), Marseille, France.
| | - G F Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Sciences Unit, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario M1B 5K7, Canada
| | - S L Checkley
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - J Blake
- Animal Resources Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1033 Sheenjek Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6980, USA
| | - J E Rowell
- Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7500, USA
| | - S Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
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27
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Cattet M, Janz DM, Kapronczai L, Erlenbach JA, Jansen HT, Nelson OL, Robbins CT, Stenhouse GB. Cortisol levels in blood and hair of unanesthetized grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) following intravenous cosyntropin injection. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:2032-2038. [PMID: 33978314 PMCID: PMC8464257 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is being used increasingly to evaluate long‐term stress in many mammalian species. Most of the cortisol is assumed to passively diffuse from circulating blood into hair follicles and gradually accumulate in growing hair. However, our research with free‐ranging grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) suggests HCC increases significantly within several hours following capture, a time too brief to be explained by this mechanism alone. In this study with captive grizzly bears, we sought to determine if a brief spike in blood cortisol concentration, thus mimicking a single stressful event, would cause an increase in HCC over a 7‐day period. To do this, we administered a single intravenous dose (5 μg/kg) of cosyntropin to three captive unanaesthetised adult female grizzly bears on two occasions, during April when hair growth was arrested and during August when hair was growing. In both trials, the cosyntropin caused a two‐fold or greater increase in serum cortisol levels within 1 hr but did not appear to influence HCC at 1, 48, and 168 hr following cosyntropin administration. We conclude the cosyntropin‐induced cortisol spike was likely insignificant when compared to the adrenocortical response that occurs in free‐ranging bears when captured. We suggest further study with a larger sample of captive bears to evaluate the combined effects of anaesthesia and multiple doses of cosyntropin administered over several hours would better simulate the adrenocortical response of free‐ranging grizzly bears during capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Cattet
- RGL Recovery Wildlife Health & Veterinary Services, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.,Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - David M Janz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.,Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - Joy A Erlenbach
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Heiko T Jansen
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - O Lynne Nelson
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Charles T Robbins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Gordon B Stenhouse
- fRI Research, Hinton, AB, Canada.,Alberta Environment & Parks, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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28
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André A, Michaux J, Gaitan J, Millien V. Long-term stress level in a small mammal species undergoing range expansion. MAMMALIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2020-0041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Rapid climate change is currently altering species distribution ranges. Evaluating the long-term stress level in wild species undergoing range expansion may help better understanding how species cope with the changing environment. Here, we focused on the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), a widespread small mammal species in North-America whose distribution range is rapidly shifting northward. We evaluated long-term stress level in several populations of P. leucopus in Quebec (Canada), from the northern edge of the species distribution to more core populations in Southern Quebec. We first tested the hypothesis that populations at the range margin are under higher stress than more established populations in the southern region of our study area. We then compared four measures of long-term stress level to evaluate the congruence between these commonly used methods. We did not detect any significant geographical trend in stress level across our study populations of P. leucopus. Most notably, we found no clear congruence between the four measures of stress level we used, and conclude that these four commonly used methods are not equivalent, thereby not comparable across studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien André
- Redpath Museum , McGill University , Montreal , QC H3A 0C4 , Canada
- Conservation Genetics Laboratory , University of Liège , Boulevard du rectorat 26 , 4000 Liège , Belgium
| | - Johan Michaux
- Conservation Genetics Laboratory , University of Liège , Boulevard du rectorat 26 , 4000 Liège , Belgium
- Animal Santé Territoire Risque Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique , Unité Mixe de Recherche 117 (ASTRE) Univ. Montpellier, Centre International de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) , 34398 Montpellier , France
| | - Jorge Gaitan
- Redpath Museum , McGill University , Montreal , QC H3A 0C4 , Canada
| | - Virginie Millien
- Redpath Museum , McGill University , Montreal , QC H3A 0C4 , Canada
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29
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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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30
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Bartling-John EE, Phillips KA. The Effect of Body Region on Hair Cortisol Concentration in Common Marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus). Comp Med 2021; 71:148-151. [PMID: 33752781 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-20-000091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are a valuable research model for the study of neuroscience and the biologic impact of aging due to their adaptivity, physiologic characteristics, and ease of handling for experimental manipulations. Quantification of cortisol in hair provides a noninvasive, retrospective biomarker of hypothalamics-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and information on animal wellbeing, including responses to environmental and social stimuli. To obtain valid and reliable measurements of long-term HPA activity, we investigated the variability of cortisol concentration in the hair depending on the body region of marmosets. Hair was collected from the back and tail of 9 adult common marmosets during annual health screenings (male n = 3; female n = 6) and these samples were analyzed for cortisol via methanol extraction and enzyme immunoassay. We found that hair cortisol concentration differed between the tail and back regions, with the tail samples having a significantly higher cortisol concentration. These results indicate intraindividual and interindividual comparisons of hair cortisol concentration should use hair obtained from the same body region in marmosets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kimberley A Phillips
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas; Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas;,
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31
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Kroska AC, Wolf N, Planas JV, Baker MR, Smeltz TS, Harris BP. Controlled experiments to explore the use of a multi-tissue approach to characterizing stress in wild-caught Pacific halibut ( Hippoglossus stenolepis). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab001. [PMID: 33575032 PMCID: PMC7868037 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The integration of multiple tissues in physiological and ecological analyses can enhance methodological approaches, increase applications for data and extend interpretation of results. Previous investigations of the stress response in fish have focused primarily on cortisol levels in a single matrix-blood plasma-which confines interpretations of cortisol levels to a short temporal frame. Epidermal mucus has been proposed as an alternative or complement to plasma that may provide a view to cortisol levels over a different temporal window allowing comparative assessment. Here, we explore the potential for multi-tissue cortisol analysis using both plasma and epidermal mucus in Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis). The relative timing at which cortisol increased and decreased in the two matrices as well as cortisol concentrations at estimated peak levels were compared in two trials after (i) inducing cortisol synthesis by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH1-24) administration and (ii) inducing cortisol elimination using cortisol (hydrocortisone, 98%) injection. The ACTH treatment elicited a peak plasma cortisol response approximately 12 hours post-injection, while mucus cortisol concentrations peaked later at approximately 62 hours post-injection. Exogenous cortisol treatments suggested relatively little transfer of cortisol from plasma to mucus, potentially reflecting differential effects of endogenous and exogenous cortisol. Our results suggest the potential utility of mucus as a sampling matrix that provides an extended window for detection of the stress response as compared to plasma. Results also suggest the utility of a multi-tissue approach to cortisol analysis with potential applications to applied fisheries research. Increased understanding of the relative scale of the cortisol response to stress (e.g. capture) will allow researchers and managers to better interpret the physiological condition and survival outcome of fish subjected to regulatory discard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita C Kroska
- Fisheries, Aquatic Science, and Technology Laboratory, Alaska Pacific University, 4101 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - Nathan Wolf
- Fisheries, Aquatic Science, and Technology Laboratory, Alaska Pacific University, 4101 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - Josep V Planas
- Fisheries, Aquatic Science, and Technology Laboratory, Alaska Pacific University, 4101 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
- International Pacific Halibut Commission, 2320 W Commodore Way, Seattle, WA 98199, USA
| | - Matthew R Baker
- Fisheries, Aquatic Science, and Technology Laboratory, Alaska Pacific University, 4101 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
- North Pacific Research Board, 1007 W 3rd Ave #100, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA
| | - T Scott Smeltz
- Fisheries, Aquatic Science, and Technology Laboratory, Alaska Pacific University, 4101 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - Bradley P Harris
- Fisheries, Aquatic Science, and Technology Laboratory, Alaska Pacific University, 4101 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
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32
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Blecher AS, Scheun J, Ganswindt A. Degradation of Temminck's pangolin ( Smutsia temminckii) scales with a keratinase for extraction of reproductive steroid hormones. MethodsX 2021; 8:101229. [PMID: 34434752 PMCID: PMC8374191 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2021.101229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hormone monitoring in keratinous tissues has become increasingly popular. The insoluble keratin materials are generally pulverised before hormone extraction; however, this is difficult for thicker keratin structures like baleen plates or hooves. A new method, involving the use of keratinase, allows enzymatic digestion of keratin and hormone analysis in the resulting suspension. Pangolins are unique mammals covered in keratinous scales, which are one of the reasons these animals are extensively trafficked. This study aimed to investigate the suitability of Temminck's pangolin scales as hormone matrix for quantifying reproductive steroids. A protocol was developed to digest scales with a keratinase before measuring hormone concentrations. This method can be used to investigate the reproductive endocrinology of Temminck's pangolins but may also be extended to the other extant pangolin species.•Keratinase digests Temminck's pangolin scales and reproductive steroid metabolite concentrations are measurable in the resulting suspension.•Isopropanol is an ideal washing solvent for scales to remove surface contaminants and scale sample mass should be standardised to allow comparisons.•Any section of a scale and scales from any pangolin body region can be used as samples for hormone quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arantxa S. Blecher
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Juan Scheun
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Biodiversity Research Services, National Zoological Gardens, South Africa
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa
| | - André Ganswindt
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Biodiversity Research Services, National Zoological Gardens, South Africa
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33
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Heimbürge S, Kanitz E, Tuchscherer A, Otten W. Is it getting in the hair? - Cortisol concentrations in native, regrown and segmented hairs of cattle and pigs after repeated ACTH administrations. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 295:113534. [PMID: 32540492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to stress and induces the release of cortisol, which is commonly used as an indicator in stress and animal welfare research. In recent years, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) gained increasing importance as a promising retrospective indicator for stress in animals. Thus, the aim of our study was to validate HCC as a potential indicator of increased endogenous cortisol release in cattle and pigs by repeated ACTH administrations followed by cortisol analysis in different hair types. For this purpose, 34 cattle and 38 gilts were treated either with repeated i.m. injections of ACTH or saline every second day over a period of 4 weeks. Saliva samples were taken before and after injections once a week from selected animals to verify the endogenous cortisol response. At the end of the treatment (week 4) and after 8 and 12 weeks, samples of natural and regrown hair were taken from the caudo-dorsal region of the back and analyzed for cortisol concentrations. In addition, natural hair was sampled after 12 weeks and cut into segments prior to analysis. Treatment with ACTH revealed a significant increase in salivary cortisol after application in both species, although this increase was attenuated in pigs compared to cattle. In week 4, HCCs were significantly elevated in natural and regrown hair of ACTH-treated animals. In cattle, HCCs significantly increased after ACTH treatment in natural, regrown and segmental hair compared with control animals, indicating that HCC may be a promising indicator of stress, as cortisol levels in all hair types reflected the preceding period with increased cortisol release. In pigs, there were no differences in HCCs between treatments. This may be caused by the lower systemic cortisol response in pigs, but seasonally reduced hair growth and external cross-contamination of hair by saliva and urine under commercial husbandry conditions may also interfere with the validity of HCC in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susen Heimbürge
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Ellen Kanitz
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Armin Tuchscherer
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Genetics and Biometry, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Winfried Otten
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
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34
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Lavergne SG, Peers MJL, Mastromonaco G, Majchrzak YN, Nair A, Boutin S, Boonstra R. Hair cortisol as a reliable indicator of stress physiology in the snowshoe hare: Influence of body region, sex, season, and predator-prey population dynamics. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 294:113471. [PMID: 32234297 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Hair cortisol concentration is increasingly used as a convenient, non-invasive, and integrative measure of physiology and health in natural populations of mammals. However, the use of this index is potentially confounded by individual variation in body region-specific differences in cortisol deposition rates. Here we examine correlations in cortisol concentrations in hair collected from the ear, shoulder, and thigh of wild snowshoe hares, Lepus americanus, as well as the influence of sex on cortisol measurements. We further evaluated this technique's ability to capture seasonal and cyclical patterns of snowshoe hare glucocorticoid secretion from 2013 to 2015 in the southwestern Yukon (Canada). We found positive correlations (R2 = 0.20-0.32) in all pairwise comparisons among body regions, and differences among individuals accounted for the greatest proportion of variance (47.3%) in measurements. From 2013 to 2015 the hares' primary predator - Canada lynx - approximately doubled in population abundance. We found a significant increase in hare hair cortisol concentrations across this time period. Cortisol indices were higher in summer than winter pelage, reflecting predicted physiological responses to seasonal variation in food availability and individual risk. Variation in hair cortisol concentrations was more similar to long-term (weeks-months) integrative indices of adrenal capacity than point samples of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations. Overall, we find that hair cortisol analysis is a simple and useful tool for estimations of population-level stress physiology in wild mammals, and sampling of core body regions with consistent moulting patterns produced the most robust results in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia G Lavergne
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Michael J L Peers
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Yasmine N Majchrzak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anandu Nair
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rudy Boonstra
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Gardela J, Carbajal A, Tallo-Parra O, Olvera-Maneu S, Álvarez-Rodríguez M, Jose-Cunilleras E, López-Béjar M. Temporary Relocation during Rest Periods: Relocation Stress and Other Factors Influence Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E642. [PMID: 32276388 PMCID: PMC7222751 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Horse transportation for temporary relocation during rest periods is a common and widespread practice among horse owners, either from sport competition or working tasks. This study aimed to determine the effect of a relocation period and the multiple factors associated with a rest period on hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) in horses. Additionally, this study reports the seasonal effect on HCCs and hair growth over a year. Thirteen police horses, Pure Spanish stallions of various ages (5-13 y), were selected to participate in this study. Hair sample collection was carried out approximately every 30 d for seven months (Study 1) and a year (Study 2). Cortisol determinations were performed by enzyme immunoassay. Interestingly, Study 1 revealed that relocated horses (n = 4) exhibited elevated HCCs compared with control horses (n = 4) after the relocation period (p < 0.05). Study 2 (n = 5) showed higher HCCs during summer compared with autumn and winter, and higher hair growth rates in winter compared with the other seasons (p < 0.05). Relocated horses had higher HCCs, suggesting a change in their welfare status, probably related to the sudden change in their surrounding conditions. However, these results should be interpreted cautiously due to the low sample size used. The nature of the relationship between HCCs and horse welfare needs to be further examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaume Gardela
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (J.G.); (A.C.); (S.O.-M.); (M.Á.-R.)
| | - Annaïs Carbajal
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (J.G.); (A.C.); (S.O.-M.); (M.Á.-R.)
| | - Oriol Tallo-Parra
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Sergi Olvera-Maneu
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (J.G.); (A.C.); (S.O.-M.); (M.Á.-R.)
| | - Manuel Álvarez-Rodríguez
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (J.G.); (A.C.); (S.O.-M.); (M.Á.-R.)
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), Division of Children’s and Women Health (BKH), Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linköping University, Linköping, 58183 Östergötland, Sweden
| | - Eduard Jose-Cunilleras
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Manel López-Béjar
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (J.G.); (A.C.); (S.O.-M.); (M.Á.-R.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
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Jewgenow K, Azevedo A, Albrecht M, Kirschbaum C, Dehnhard M. Hair cortisol analyses in different mammal species: choosing the wrong assay may lead to erroneous results. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 8:coaa009. [PMID: 32153782 PMCID: PMC7055589 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Wild animals are faced with a broad range of environmental stressors and research is needed to better understand their effect on populations. Hormone analysis based on enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) can provide valuable information on adrenocortical activity (stress), and assessment of cortisol in hair may allow the quantification of cortisol production. To validate hair hormone analysis, we compared two EIAs based on antibodies against cortisol-3-CMO-BSA and cortisol-21-HS-BSA for hair glucocorticoid (hGC) measurements in Egyptian mongoose, Iberian lynx, Alpine marmot, Asiatic black bear, spotted hyena and cheetah, with results obtained by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) measurements. Both EIAs were also characterized by HPLC immunograms. Our results revealed that the cortisol-21-HS EIA measured 2.3- to 12-fold higher hGC concentrations than the cortisol-3-CMO assay. In dependence of the species, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) immunograms showed that up to 70% of immunoreactivities determined by the cortisol-21-HS constituted of unknown unpolar compounds leading to an overestimation of hGC. The cortisol-3-CMO EIA expressed a better specificity, with 32.1-67.4% of immunoreactivity represented by cortisol and cortisone. The LC-MS/MS analyses (gold standard) revealed that the cortisol-3-CMO EIA also resulted in an (up to 3-fold) overestimation of hGC, but EIA results were correlated with LC-MS/MS in the mongoose, the lynx, the spotted hyena and the marmot. No correlation was obtained for Asiatic black bears. As a result of our study, we strongly recommend to test any cortisol EIA for its specificity towards extracted hair components. In all analyzed species, except the Asiatic black bear, cortisone and cortisol were simultaneously present in hair extracts; consequently, an appropriate EIA should cross-react to these two glucocorticoid hormones and express negligible affinity towards substances with less polarity than corticosterone. Choosing the wrong EIA for hGC analyses may lead to overestimations of hGC or-in the worst case-to results that do not mirror real adrenocortical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Jewgenow
- Department Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str.17, D-10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandre Azevedo
- Department Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str.17, D-10315 Berlin, Germany
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mareen Albrecht
- Department Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str.17, D-10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Faculty of Psychology, Department of Biopsychology, Technical University of Dresden, Helmholtzstraße 10, D-01069 Dresden, Germany Germany
| | - Martin Dehnhard
- Department Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str.17, D-10315 Berlin, Germany
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Spong G, Gould NP, Sahlén E, Cromsigt JPGM, Kindberg J, DePerno CS. Large-scale spatial variation of chronic stress signals in moose. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0225990. [PMID: 31929559 PMCID: PMC6957135 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The physiological effects of short-term stress responses typically lead to increased individual survival as it prepares the body for fight or flight through catabolic reactions in the body. These physiological effects trade off against growth, immunocompetence, reproduction, and even long-term survival. Chronic stress may thus reduce individual and population performance, with direct implications for the management and conservation of wildlife populations. Yet, relatively little is known about how chronic stress levels vary across wild populations and factors contributing to increased chronic stress levels. One method to measure long-term stress in mammals is to quantify slowly incorporated stress hormone (cortisol) in hair, which most likely reflect a long-term average of the stress responses. In this study, we sampled 237 harvested moose Alces alces across Sweden to determine the relative effect of landscape variables and disturbances on moose hair cortisol levels. We used linear model combinations and Akaike’s Information Criterion (corrected for small sample sizes), and included variables related to human disturbance, ungulate competition, large carnivore density, and ambient temperature to estimate the covariates that best explained the variance in stress levels in moose. The most important variables explaining the variation in hair cortisol levels in moose were the long-term average temperature sum in the area moose lived and the distance to occupied wolf territory; higher hair cortisol levels were detected where temperatures were higher and closer to occupied wolf territories, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Göran Spong
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Program, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Nicholas P. Gould
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Program, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Ellinor Sahlén
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Program, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Jonas Kindberg
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Christopher S. DePerno
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Program, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
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Abdulsattar JO, Greenway GM. A sensitive chemiluminescence based immunoassay for the detection of cortisol and cortisone as stress biomarkers. J Anal Sci Technol 2019. [DOI: 10.1186/s40543-019-0196-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractAn electrochemically based antibody immobilization was used to perform environmentally and clinically relevant immunoassays for stress hormones biomarkers (cortisol and cortisone) using chemiluminescence (CL) detection. To achieve CL detection, the ferrocene tag on the antibodies was first oxidised, and this then acted as a catalyst for the luminol and hydrogen peroxide CL reaction. The conditions were optimised and measurements were made with an incubation time of 30 min. Using this approach limits of detection were obtained of 0.47 pg ml−1and 0.34 pg ml−1alsoR20.9912 and 0.9902 for cortisol and cortisone respectively with a linear concentration from 0 to 50 ng ml−1. The method was then applied to Zebrafish whole body and artificial saliva samples. For the Zebrafish sample recoveries of 91.0% and 90.0% were obtained with samples spiked with cortisol and cortisone, for artificial saliva the recoveries were 92.59% and 90.73% respectively. Interference studies showed only minor effects on the measurement of the analyte. A comparison between this procedure and the standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedure gave approximately the sameR2values.
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Özkan Gülzari Ş, Jørgensen GHM, Eilertsen SM, Hansen I, Hagen SB, Fløystad I, Palme R. Measuring Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites to Assess Adrenocortical Activity in Reindeer. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9110987. [PMID: 31752137 PMCID: PMC6912703 DOI: 10.3390/ani9110987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Several non-invasive methods for assessing stress responses have been developed and validated for many animal species. Due to species-specific differences in metabolism and excretion of stress hormones, methods should be validated for each species. The aim of this study was to conduct a physiological validation of an 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for measuring faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) in male reindeer by administration of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH; intramuscular, 0.25 mg per animal). A total of 317 samples were collected from eight male reindeer over a 44 h period at Tverrvatnet in Norway in mid-winter. In addition, 114 samples were collected from a group of reindeer during normal handling and calf marking at Stjernevatn in Norway. Following ACTH injection, FCM levels (median and range) were 568 (268-2415) ng/g after two hours, 2718 (414-8550) ng/g after seven hours and 918 (500-6931) ng/g after 24 h. Levels were significantly higher from seven hours onwards compared to earlier hours (p < 0.001). The FCM levels at Stjernevatn were significantly (p < 0.001) different before (samples collected zero to two hours; median: 479 ng/g) and after calf marking (eight to ten hours; median: 1469 ng/g). Identification of the faecal samples belonging to individual animals was conducted using DNA analysis across time. This study reports a successful validation of a non-invasive technique for measuring stress in reindeer, which can be applied in future studies in the fields of biology, ethology, ecology, animal conservation and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Şeyda Özkan Gülzari
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, P.O. Box 115, 1431 Ås, Norway; (Ş.Ö.G.); (S.M.E.); (I.H.); (S.B.H.); (I.F.)
| | - Grete Helen Meisfjord Jørgensen
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, P.O. Box 115, 1431 Ås, Norway; (Ş.Ö.G.); (S.M.E.); (I.H.); (S.B.H.); (I.F.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Svein Morten Eilertsen
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, P.O. Box 115, 1431 Ås, Norway; (Ş.Ö.G.); (S.M.E.); (I.H.); (S.B.H.); (I.F.)
| | - Inger Hansen
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, P.O. Box 115, 1431 Ås, Norway; (Ş.Ö.G.); (S.M.E.); (I.H.); (S.B.H.); (I.F.)
| | - Snorre Bekkevold Hagen
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, P.O. Box 115, 1431 Ås, Norway; (Ş.Ö.G.); (S.M.E.); (I.H.); (S.B.H.); (I.F.)
| | - Ida Fløystad
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, P.O. Box 115, 1431 Ås, Norway; (Ş.Ö.G.); (S.M.E.); (I.H.); (S.B.H.); (I.F.)
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria;
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Franchini M, Prandi A, Filacorda S, Pezzin EN, Fanin Y, Comin A. Cortisol in hair: a comparison between wild and feral cats in the north-eastern Alps. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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41
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Carbillet J, Rey B, Lavabre T, Chaval Y, Merlet J, Débias F, Régis C, Pardonnet S, Duhayer J, Gaillard JM, Hewison AJM, Lemaître JF, Pellerin M, Rannou B, Verheyden H, Gilot-Fromont E. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio indexes individual variation in the behavioural stress response of wild roe deer across fluctuating environmental conditions. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2755-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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42
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Laberge F, Yin-Liao I, Bernier NJ. Temporal profiles of cortisol accumulation and clearance support scale cortisol content as an indicator of chronic stress in fish. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 7:coz052. [PMID: 31620290 PMCID: PMC6788491 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The development of chronic stress indicators for fish is of great interest, but appropriate non-invasive methods are lagging those used in terrestrial vertebrates. Here, we explore the possibility that levels of the stress hormone cortisol in scales could be used as a chronic stress indicator. Three experiments were conducted to assess the temporal profiles of cortisol rise and fall in plasma and scales of goldfish (Carassius auratus) in response to stressors of varying intensity and duration. Results show that a single acute air emersion stressor does not influence scale cortisol content. In contrast, relative to plasma levels, the fall in scale cortisol content following a high-dose cortisol implant is delayed by at least 8 days, and the rise and fall in scale cortisol content in response to unpredictable chronic stress are delayed by at least 7 days. Also, scale cortisol content is spatially heterogeneous across the body surface of goldfish. Overall, since high and sustained circulating cortisol levels are needed to influence scale cortisol content and the rates of cortisol accumulation and clearance are much slower in scales than in plasma, our results show that scales can provide an integrated measure of cortisol production and serve as a chronic stress indicator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Laberge
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2WI
| | - Irene Yin-Liao
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2WI
| | - Nicholas J Bernier
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2WI
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Dulude-de Broin F, Côté SD, Whiteside DP, Mastromonaco GF. Faecal metabolites and hair cortisol as biological markers of HPA-axis activity in the Rocky mountain goat. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 280:147-157. [PMID: 31009603 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring glucocorticoids in faeces and hair is increasingly used in ecological studies and provides a powerful and minimally intrusive mean to identify physiological challenges faced by wild animals. Using a cortisol and a corticosterone immunoassays, we conducted an adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) challenge with five weekly repeated injections to validate the use of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and hair cortisol concentration as biological markers of the HPA-axis activity in captive mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus). We also investigated the effect of endogenous (age, sex, reproductive status) and methodological (faecal sample collection date, freezing delay and hair type) variables on cortisol values using faecal and hair samples collected from marked wild mountain goats during a long-term study. The cortisol enzyme immunoassay was reliable for mountain goat faeces and hair, and was sensitive enough to detect a clear rise in glucocorticoid concentration following ACTH injections for both matrices. Age and sex had no detectable effect on faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, but hair cortisol concentration was higher in kids and yearlings than in older goats, and lower in adult males compared to adult females. Reproductive status had no detectable effect on both faecal and hair measurements. Faecal metabolite concentrations increased with sample collection date in late spring until mid-summer and decreased afterward until early fall. Guard hair had nearly twice as much cortisol per gram as undercoat hair. Prolonged delay to freezing reduced the concentration of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, but degradation seemed limited when samples were exposed to wind and sun or when ambient temperature was low. We conclude that faeces and hair can be used as valid biomarkers of the HPA-axis activity in mountain goat provided that confounding variables are taken into account when interpreting measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Dulude-de Broin
- Département de biologie, and Centre d'études Nordiques, Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Steeve D Côté
- Département de biologie, and Centre d'études Nordiques, Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Douglas P Whiteside
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada; Calgary Zoo, Alberta T2E 7V6, Canada
| | - Gabriela F Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Physiology, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M1B 5K7, Canada
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Kalliokoski O, Jellestad FK, Murison R. A systematic review of studies utilizing hair glucocorticoids as a measure of stress suggests the marker is more appropriate for quantifying short-term stressors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11997. [PMID: 31427664 PMCID: PMC6701156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48517-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitating glucocorticoids (GCs) in hairs is a popular method for assessing chronic stress in studies of humans and animals alike. The cause-and-effect relationship between stress and elevated GC levels in hairs, sampled weeks later, is however hard to prove. This systematic review evaluated the evidence supporting hair glucocorticoids (hGCs) as a biomarker of stress. Only a relatively small number of controlled studies employing hGC analyses have been published, and the quality of the evidence is compromised by unchecked sources of bias. Subjects exposed to stress mostly demonstrate elevated levels of hGCs, and these concentrations correlate significantly with GC concentrations in serum, saliva and feces. This supports hGCs as a biomarker of stress, but the dataset provided no evidence that hGCs are a marker of stress outside of the immediate past. Only in cases where the stressor persisted at the time of hair sampling could a clear link between stress and hGCs be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Kalliokoski
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Finn K Jellestad
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Robert Murison
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Azevedo A, Bailey L, Bandeira V, Dehnhard M, Fonseca C, de Sousa L, Jewgenow K. Age, sex and storage time influence hair cortisol levels in a wild mammal population. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221124. [PMID: 31398221 PMCID: PMC6688795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The measurement of hair cortisol is increasingly used to understand the effect of natural and anthropogenic stressors on wild animals, but it is potentially confounded by individual, seasonal and sex-dependant variations in baseline cortisol secretion. This study validated an enzyme-linked immunoassay for hair cortisol measurement and characterized its baseline variation in a wild population of Egyptian mongoose. The analysis encompassed individuals of both sexes and all ages, across a range of geographic, environmental and seasonal conditions that the species experiences in Portugal allowing us to account for spatial, temporal and biological factors that contribute to hair cortisol variation. Our results showed that age, sex and storage time had an effect on hair cortisol, but season did not. Hair cortisol was higher in early stage juveniles compared to other age cohorts, in males when compared to females, and decreased with longer storage time. By identifying the factors that influence baseline hair cortisol in this wild population, we establish the basis for its application as an indicator of the effect of natural and anthropogenic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Azevedo
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail:
| | - Liam Bailey
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor Bandeira
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Martin Dehnhard
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carlos Fonseca
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | - Katarina Jewgenow
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
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46
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Carbajal A, Tallo-Parra O, Monclús L, Vinyoles D, Solé M, Lacorte S, Lopez-Bejar M. Variation in scale cortisol concentrations of a wild freshwater fish: Habitat quality or seasonal influences? Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 275:44-50. [PMID: 30716305 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A significant body of literature suggests that aquatic pollutants can interfere with the physiological function of the fish hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis, and eventually impair the ability to cope with subsequent stressors. For this reason, development of accurate techniques to assess fish stress responses have become of growing interest. Fish scales have been recently recognized as a biomaterial that accumulates cortisol, hence it can be potentially used to assess chronic stress in laboratory conditions. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate the applicability of this novel method for cortisol assessment in fish within their natural environment. Catalan chub (Squalius laietanus) were sampled from two sites; a highly polluted and a less polluted (reference) site, in order to examine if habitat quality could potentially influence the cortisol deposition in scales. We also evaluated the seasonal variation in scale cortisol levels by sampling fish at three different time points during spring-summer 2014. In each sampling, blood was collected to complement the information provided by the scales. Our results demonstrated that blood and scale cortisol levels from individuals inhabiting the reference site were significantly correlated, therefore increasing the applicability of the method as a sensitive-individual measure of fish HPI axis activity, at least in non-polluted habitats. Since different environmental conditions could potentially alter the usefulness of the technique, results highlight that further validation is required to better interpret hormone fluctuations in fish scales. Scale cortisol concentrations were unaffected by habitat quality although fish from the polluted environment presented lower circulating cortisol levels. We detected a seasonal increase in scale cortisol values concurring with an energetically costly period for the species, supporting the idea that the analysis of cortisol in scales reveals changes in the HPI axis activity. Taken together, the present study suggests that cortisol levels in scales are more likely to be influenced by mid-term, intense energetically demanding periods rather than by long-term stressors. Measurement of cortisol in fish scales can open the possibility to study novel spatio-temporal contexts of interest, yet further research is required to better understand its biological relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Carbajal
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - O Tallo-Parra
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Monclús
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - D Vinyoles
- Department of Evolutive Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Solé
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Lacorte
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, c/Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Lopez-Bejar
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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Crill C, Janz DM, Kusch JM, Santymire RM, Heyer GP, Shury TK, Lane JE. Investigation of the utility of feces and hair as non-invasive measures of glucocorticoids in wild black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 275:15-24. [PMID: 30735671 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Non-invasive measures of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones and their metabolites, particularly in feces and hair, are gaining popularity as wildlife management tools, but species-specific validations of these tools remain rare. We report the results of a validation on black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), a highly social engineer of the grasslands ecosystem that has experienced recent population declines. We captured adult female prairie dogs and brought them into temporary captivity to conduct an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test, assessing the relationship between plasma GC and fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) levels following a single injection of a low (4 IU/kg) or high dose (12 IU/kg) of ACTH, compared to a single injection of saline. We also gave repeated injections of ACTH to adult females to assess whether this would result in an increase of hair cortisol concentrations, compared with control individuals repeatedly injected with saline. A single injection of ACTH at either low or high dose peaked plasma cortisol levels after 30 min, and thereafter the cortisol levels declined until 120 min, where they returned to pre-treatment levels comparable to those of the saline injected group. Despite the significant elevation of plasma cortisol in the treatment groups following ACTH injection, the elevation of FGM levels in the treatment groups were not significantly different from those in the control group over the following 12 h. Repeated injection of a high dose of ACTH failed to increase hair cortisol concentration in treatment animals. Instead, hair cortisol levels remained comparable to the pre-treatment mean, despite an increase in post-treatment hair cortisol levels seen in the saline-injected group. The magnitude of increase in the saline control group was comparable to natural seasonal variation seen in unmanipulated individuals. These results highlight that while measurement of GCs and their metabolites in feces and hair are potentially valuable conservation tools for black-tailed prairie dogs, further validation work is required before these matrices can be to real-world conservation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Crill
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - David M Janz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
| | | | - Rachel M Santymire
- Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, Lincoln Park Zoo, United States
| | | | | | - Jeffrey E Lane
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
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48
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Effects of demography and urbanization on stress and body condition in urban white-tailed deer. Urban Ecosyst 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-019-00856-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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49
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Vandeleest J, Capitanio J, Hamel A, Meyer J, Novak M, Mendoza S, McCowan B. Social stability influences the association between adrenal responsiveness and hair cortisol concentrations in rhesus macaques. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 100:164-171. [PMID: 30342315 PMCID: PMC6333515 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hair cortisol concentrations are increasingly being used in both humans and nonhuman animals as a biomarker of chronic stress. However, many details regarding how hair cortisol concentrations relate to the dynamic activity and regulation of the HPA axis are still unknown. The current study explores 1) how the regulation of the HPA axis in infancy relates to hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in infancy 2) whether this relationship persists into adulthood under conditions of social stability, and 3) how social instability impacts these relationships. All subjects were rhesus monkeys housed in large social groups at the California National Primate Research Center, and all had participated in a 25-hr. long BioBehavioral Assessment (BBA) at 3-4 months of age when four plasma samples were taken to assess HPA regulation, in particular cortisol responses to 1) 2-hour social separation and relocation, 2) sustained challenge, 3) dexamethasone and 4) ACTH administration. In Study 1, hair samples were collected at the end of the BBA testing from 25 infant rhesus monkeys from 2 different stable social groups. In Study 2, hair samples were obtained at three timepoints from 108 adults from 3 different stable social groups (1 in the Spring/Summer and 2 in the Fall/Winter) to examine the temporal stability of the relationship between HCC and HPA axis regulation. In Study 3, subjects included 31 infants and 33 adults from a single social group experiencing social instability following the same procedures as in Studies 1 and 2. Generalized linear models were used to determine if infants' HPA axis activity and regulation predicted HCC in infancy (Study 1), in adulthood with animals living in stable social conditions (Study 2) or in animals living in an unstable social group (Study 3). Results indicated that for both infants and adults living in stable social groups, HCC are associated with the adrenal response to ACTH in infancy. Samples collected in the winter also had higher HCC than those collected in summer. In the unstable social group, adult hair cortisol levels were higher than in the stable social groups. Additionally, there were no consistent relationships between HCC and infant HPA axis regulation among adults or infants living in a group experiencing social instability. These results suggest that the aspects of the HPA axis that drive HCC may differ depending on context. Under stable, non-stressed conditions there seems to be a trait-like association between adrenal responsivity and HCC in infancy and adulthood. However, this association may be reduced or eliminated under conditions of social stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.J. Vandeleest
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA,Corresponding author: California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 956167, USA, Phone: 1-530-752-1506, Fax: 1-530-752-2880,
| | - J.P. Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - A. Hamel
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, 441 Tobin Hall, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003 USA
| | - J. Meyer
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, 441 Tobin Hall, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003 USA
| | - M. Novak
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, 441 Tobin Hall, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003 USA
| | - S.P. Mendoza
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - B McCowan
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA,Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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HEALTH SURVEY OF BOREAL CARIBOU ( RANGIFER TARANDUS CARIBOU) IN NORTHEASTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. J Wildl Dis 2019; 55:544-562. [PMID: 30605390 DOI: 10.7589/2018-01-018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are listed as threatened across Canada, and a basic understanding of their health status is lacking. From December 2012 to April 2013, we investigated multiple health indices for adult female boreal caribou (n=163) captured from seven herds in NE British Columbia, Canada. Health indices included physical characteristics, physiologic and trace mineral status, exposure to or infection with selected pathogens, and measures of chronic stress and inflammation, including serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, and hair cortisol concentration. Key findings were exposure to the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in 14% of individuals, mild to severe hair loss associated with winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) infestations in 76% of caribou from December to early February and 81% from late February to early April, and evidence of trace mineral deficiencies with 99% and 34% of individuals deficient in copper and selenium, respectively. Seroprevalence for exposure to selected pathogens was: alphaherpesvirus (63%), pestivirus (1%), Besnoitia spp. (60%), and Neospora caninum (2%). All animals were seronegative to Brucella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis was not detected in any fecal samples. Parasite eggs or larvae, including Parelaphostrongylus andersoni (36%), Skrjabinema spp. (1%), Strongyle-type eggs (11%), Moniezia-type eggs (8%), and nematodirines (3%), were detected on fecal examination, but at low intensity. Blood biochemistry values and hair cortisol concentrations were within ranges previously reported in Rangifer tarandus sspp. Some significant differences among herds were noted, including antler morphology, exposure to Besnoitia spp., and concentrations of serum amyloid A, copper, cobalt, manganese, and iron.
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