Validation of complementary non-invasive tools for stress assessment in spotted paca ( Cuniculus paca )

Monitoring the concentration of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) in faecal samples is a non-invasive tool for physiological stress evaluation, particularly useful when studying wild species. However, both negative and positive stimuli (distress and eustress, respectively) can lead to a rise in gluc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Animal welfare Vol. 32; p. e54
Main Authors:	Altino, Vanessa S, Rezende, Darília Cb, Nogueira, Selene Sc, Aldrigui, Letícia G, Roldan, Mar, Duarte, José Mb, Fureix, Carole, Mendl, Michael, Nogueira-Filho, Sérgio Lg
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Cambridge University Press 2023
Subjects:	ACTH-challenge test animal husbandry animal welfare enzyme immunoassay glucocorticoid metabolites inactive but awake animal husbandry enzyme immunoassay inactive but awake animal welfare glucocorticoid metabolites ACTH-challenge test
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Summary:	Monitoring the concentration of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) in faecal samples is a non-invasive tool for physiological stress evaluation, particularly useful when studying wild species. However, both negative and positive stimuli (distress and eustress, respectively) can lead to a rise in glucocorticoids. Thus, besides validating whether GCM concentration in faeces reflects endogenous adrenal activity, we also need to identify behavioural indicators of distress to avoid misinterpretation. Therefore, we submitted four adult male spotted pacas ( ) to an exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge-test in a Latin square design (4 × 4) to monitor changes in the GCM concentration in faeces. We also aimed to describe behaviours potentially indicative of distress. We collected excreted faeces and video-recorded the animals' behaviours for five consecutive days, one day before and four days after application of the following four treatments: 1st control (no-handling); 2nd control (intra-muscular [IM] injection of saline solution); low-dose ACTH (IM injection of 0.18 ml ACTH); and high-dose ACTH (IM injection of 0.37 ml ACTH). There was a peak in the concentration of GCM in faeces collected 24 h after the injection of the high-dose ACTH treatment. Additionally, independent of the treatments, spotted pacas spent less time on exploration and feeding states, while spending more time in the inactive but awake (IBA) state following the treatment application (challenge day). The use of GCM concentration in faecal samples together with the behavioural changes (less exploration and feeding, and more IBA) showed to be efficient as a non-invasive tool for welfare assessment of farmed spotted paca.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Author contributions: Conceptualisation: SLGNF, VSA, SSCN, JMBD; Data curation: SFGNF, SSCN; Formal analysis: SLGNF, VSA, DCBR, LGA, MR, JMBD, MM; Funding acquisition: SLGNF, SSCN, MM; Investigation: VSA, DCBR, LGA, MR, SLGNF; Methodology: VSA, SSCN, MR, JMBD, CF, MM, SLGNF; Project administration: SLGNF, MM; Validation: MR, JMBD; Resources: SLGNF, SSCN, JMBD, MM; Supervision: SLGNF, MR, MM; Visualisation: JMBD; Writing – original draft: VSA, DCBR, MR; Writing – review and editing: SLGNF, VSA, SSCN, LGA, MR, JMBD, CF, MM. Both authors contributed equally to this work.
ISSN:	0962-7286 2054-1538
DOI:	10.1017/awf.2023.49