TY - JOUR
T1 - Faecal corticosteroid levels as an indicator of well-being in the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii
AU - McKenzie, S.
AU - Deane, E. M.
PY - 2005/1
Y1 - 2005/1
N2 - Faecal corticosteroid levels were measured in five female tammar wallabies, Macropus eugenii, at Macquarie University, NSW, Australia, to assess their reliability as indicators of well-being in this species. Animals were challenged with a change in conditions over the course of approximately 1 week, comprising movement from group yards to isolation in individual yards, in order to impose a disturbance to homeostasis ("stress"). Faecal samples were collected in 24-h intervals during the study period and analysed for corticosteroid concentration. The use of enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of corticosteroids in marsupial faecal pellets was validated. We observed a significant increase in faecal corticosteroids upon isolation and movement. Faecal corticosteroids remained above initial levels in all five animals throughout the study period, suggesting that faecal corticosteroid concentrations may be a useful indicator of a change in animal well-being. Faecal corticosteroid levels did not correlate with serum cortisol levels, implying that the use of noninvasive methods in a representative marsupial, the tammar wallaby, has the potential to provide information that is not readily apparent using blood-based protocols. Faecal corticosteroid analysis therefore has the potential for application in monitoring the well-being of captive and managed marsupial populations, as part of an integrated system of measures of animal health and well-being.
AB - Faecal corticosteroid levels were measured in five female tammar wallabies, Macropus eugenii, at Macquarie University, NSW, Australia, to assess their reliability as indicators of well-being in this species. Animals were challenged with a change in conditions over the course of approximately 1 week, comprising movement from group yards to isolation in individual yards, in order to impose a disturbance to homeostasis ("stress"). Faecal samples were collected in 24-h intervals during the study period and analysed for corticosteroid concentration. The use of enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of corticosteroids in marsupial faecal pellets was validated. We observed a significant increase in faecal corticosteroids upon isolation and movement. Faecal corticosteroids remained above initial levels in all five animals throughout the study period, suggesting that faecal corticosteroid concentrations may be a useful indicator of a change in animal well-being. Faecal corticosteroid levels did not correlate with serum cortisol levels, implying that the use of noninvasive methods in a representative marsupial, the tammar wallaby, has the potential to provide information that is not readily apparent using blood-based protocols. Faecal corticosteroid analysis therefore has the potential for application in monitoring the well-being of captive and managed marsupial populations, as part of an integrated system of measures of animal health and well-being.
KW - Cortisol
KW - Faecal corticosteroids
KW - Marsupials
KW - Stress
KW - Tammar wallaby
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=12344294572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cbpb.2004.11.002
DO - 10.1016/j.cbpb.2004.11.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 15664316
AN - SCOPUS:12344294572
VL - 140
SP - 81
EP - 87
JO - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology
JF - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology
SN - 1095-6433
IS - 1
ER -