McKenzie S, Deane E M
Division of Environmental and Life Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2005 Jan;140(1):81-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2004.11.002.
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.
在澳大利亚新南威尔士州麦考瑞大学，对五只雌性帚尾袋貂（Macropus eugenii）的粪便皮质类固醇水平进行了测量，以评估其作为该物种健康指标的可靠性。在大约1周的时间里，通过改变动物的饲养条件对其进行挑战，即将动物从群养场地转移到单独的隔离场地，以扰乱其体内平衡（“应激”）。在研究期间，每隔24小时收集一次粪便样本，并分析其中皮质类固醇的浓度。验证了酶免疫测定法用于测量有袋动物粪便颗粒中皮质类固醇的有效性。我们观察到隔离和转移后粪便皮质类固醇显著增加。在整个研究期间，所有五只动物的粪便皮质类固醇水平均高于初始水平，这表明粪便皮质类固醇浓度可能是动物健康状况变化的有用指标。粪便皮质类固醇水平与血清皮质醇水平不相关，这意味着在有代表性的有袋动物帚尾袋貂中使用非侵入性方法，有可能提供通过基于血液的检测方法不易获得的信息。因此，粪便皮质类固醇分析有潜力应用于监测圈养和管理的有袋动物种群的健康状况，作为动物健康和福利综合测量系统的一部分。
