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Validating a non-invasive technique for monitoring physiological stress in the samango monkey

Authors :
Juan Scheun
Adrian S.W. Tordiffe
Kirsten Wimberger
Andre Ganswindt
Source :
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, Vol 87, Iss 1, Pp e1-e8 (2020)
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
AOSIS, 2020.

Abstract

The non-invasive monitoring of physiological stress can provide conservation and wildlife managers with an invaluable tool for assessing animal welfare and psychological health of captive and free-ranging populations. A significant decrease in free-ranging primate populations globally and an increase in captive-housed primates have led to a need to monitor the stress and general welfare of these animals. We examined the suitability of three enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for monitoring stress-related physiological responses in the samango monkey, Cercopithecus albogularis erythrarchus. We conducted an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge on a male and female at the National Zoological Garden, Pretoria, South Africa. Individual faecal samples were collected 8 days pre- and post-ACTH administration and subsequently analysed for faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations. During the study, biological stressors occurred for both the male and female. Two of the three EIAs tested (11-oxoetiocholanolone I and II) were able to reliably monitor fGCM alterations throughout the study period in both sexes. The 11-oxoetiocholanolone I EIA, however, had the lowest mean deviation from the calculated baseline value and was thus chosen as the preferred assay. Both the physiological activation of the stress response and the biological response to a stressor could be monitored with the chosen assay. The successful establishment of a reliable, non-invasive method for monitoring adrenocortical activity in C. albogularis erythrarchus will now allow conservationists, scientific researchers and wildlife managers to evaluate the level of stress experienced, and general welfare, by animals in captivity as well as free-ranging populations.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00302465 and 22190635
Volume :
87
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.32af1df9478bbaae723716965219
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v87i1.1720