ABSTRACT
The influence of stress in an environment, according with the behavioral and endocrine variables of primates, are increasingly being studied by a diversity of authors, and have shown that abnormal behaviors associated with increased glucocorticoids may be directly related with the impairment of their well-being. In this work were used 22 adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), 11 males and 11 females, kept in captivity in three different institutions. All animals had their behavior registered by focal session using a 30 seconds sample interval, during six months, totaling 4,800 registries per each animal. During this period, fecal samples were collected 3 times a week for the extraction and measurement of the concentration of fecal metabolites of glucocorticoid by radioimmunoassay. Of the total observed, stereotypical behaviors represented 13,45±2.76%, and among them, self-mutilation represented 38.28±3.98 %. The animals were classified into three different scores, according with the percentage of body surface with alopecia due to self-mutilation. It was found a positive correlation of high intensity between the scores of alopecia due to the observed mutilation and the average concentrations of fecal metabolites of glucocorticoids. This result strongly suggests that this measurement of self-mutilation in a chimpanzee can be used as an important auxiliary tool to evaluate de conditions of adaptation of an animal in captivity, functioning as a direct indicator of the presence of chronic stress.(AU)
A influência do estresse de um ambiente nas variáveis endócrino-comportamentais de primatas vem sendo cada vez mais estudada por diversos autores, e mostram que comportamentos anormais associados a aumentos de glicocorticóides podem estar diretamente relacionados ao comprometimento do bem-estar. Neste trabalho foram utilizados 22 chimpanzés (Pan troglodytes) adultos, sendo 11 machos e 11 fêmeas mantidos em cativeiro de três instituições diferentes. Todos os animais tiveram seus comportamentos registrados pelo método de amostragem focal por intervalo de tempo, durante seis meses, totalizando 4800 registros para cada animal. Amostras fecais foram coletadas três vezes por semana, durante este período, para extração e dosagem de metabólitos fecais de glicocorticoides por radioimunoensaio. Os comportamentos estereotipados representaram 13,45+2,76% do total observado, sendo que dentre estes comportamentos a automutilação representou 38,28+3,98%. Os animais foram classificados em três graus diferentes, de acordo com o percentual da superfície corpórea com alopecia decorrente da automutilação. Foi encontrada uma correlação positiva de intensidade forte entre os graus de alopecia decorrentes de mutilação observados e as médias de concentrações de metabólitos fecais de glicocorticoides. Este resultado sugere fortemente que esta graduação de automutilação de um chimpanzé possa ser utilizada como uma ferramenta auxiliar importante nas avaliações das condições de adaptação do animal ao cativeiro, atuando como um indicador indireto da presença de estresse crônico.(AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Pan troglodytes/metabolism , Self Mutilation/diagnosis , Feces/chemistry , Glucocorticoids/isolation & purification , Alopecia/veterinary , Stress, Physiological , Adjustment Disorders , Animals, ZooABSTRACT
The influence of stress in an environment, according with the behavioral and endocrine variables of primates, are increasingly being studied by a diversity of authors, and have shown that abnormal behaviors associated with increased glucocorticoids may be directly related with the impairment of their well-being. In this work were used 22 adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), 11 males and 11 females, kept in captivity in three different institutions. All animals had their behavior registered by focal session using a 30 seconds sample interval, during six months, totaling 4,800 registries per each animal. During this period, fecal samples were collected 3 times a week for the extraction and measurement of the concentration of fecal metabolites of glucocorticoid by radioimmunoassay. Of the total observed, stereotypical behaviors represented 13,45±2.76%, and among them, self-mutilation represented 38.28±3.98 %. The animals were classified into three different scores, according with the percentage of body surface with alopecia due to self-mutilation. It was found a positive correlation of high intensity between the scores of alopecia due to the observed mutilation and the average concentrations of fecal metabolites of glucocorticoids. This result strongly suggests that this measurement of self-mutilation in a chimpanzee can be used as an important auxiliary tool to evaluate de conditions of adaptation of an animal in captivity, functioning as a direct indicator of the presence of chronic stress...
A influência do estresse de um ambiente nas variáveis endócrino-comportamentais de primatas vem sendo cada vez mais estudada por diversos autores, e mostram que comportamentos anormais associados a aumentos de glicocorticóides podem estar diretamente relacionados ao comprometimento do bem-estar. Neste trabalho foram utilizados 22 chimpanzés (Pan troglodytes) adultos, sendo 11 machos e 11 fêmeas mantidos em cativeiro de três instituições diferentes. Todos os animais tiveram seus comportamentos registrados pelo método de amostragem focal por intervalo de tempo, durante seis meses, totalizando 4800 registros para cada animal. Amostras fecais foram coletadas três vezes por semana, durante este período, para extração e dosagem de metabólitos fecais de glicocorticoides por radioimunoensaio. Os comportamentos estereotipados representaram 13,45+2,76% do total observado, sendo que dentre estes comportamentos a automutilação representou 38,28+3,98%. Os animais foram classificados em três graus diferentes, de acordo com o percentual da superfície corpórea com alopecia decorrente da automutilação. Foi encontrada uma correlação positiva de intensidade forte entre os graus de alopecia decorrentes de mutilação observados e as médias de concentrações de metabólitos fecais de glicocorticoides. Este resultado sugere fortemente que esta graduação de automutilação de um chimpanzé possa ser utilizada como uma ferramenta auxiliar importante nas avaliações das condições de adaptação do animal ao cativeiro, atuando como um indicador indireto da presença de estresse crônico...
Subject(s)
Animals , Self Mutilation/diagnosis , Feces/chemistry , Glucocorticoids/isolation & purification , Pan troglodytes/metabolism , Adjustment Disorders , Animals, Zoo , Alopecia/veterinary , Stress, PhysiologicalABSTRACT
The proximate causes of variation in glucocorticoids (GCs) of many free-ranging primates are still unclear, and in some cases, the available evidence is contradictory. Such is the case of mantled howler monkeys. In the present study, we tested whether variation in GC levels in this species could be predicted by energetic challenges or by psychosocial stressors. We focused on two groups living in Los Tuxtlas (Veracruz, Mexico) that differed in a number of parameters including: group size, habitat size, number of groups, and solitary males within the same habitat. Furthermore, one of the groups experienced changes in composition during our observations. From March to December 2009 we determined food availability in each group's habitat, studied the behavior of all adult individuals (N = 17), including, feeding, time budgets, ranging, and social interactions (N = 426.6 h), and measured weekly GCs in fecal samples (N = 160 individual/weeks) of both females and males. We found that participation in agonistic interactions, which were more frequent in the group that lived in the smaller habitat, was associated with increased weekly GCs, particularly in pregnant and lactating females. During the dry season weekly GCs were also higher in the group that lived in the smaller habitat. Although in this group individuals significantly increased travel time during the dry season, weekly GC levels were unrelated to time-budgets or ranging distances, contrasting with previous findings on mantled howler monkeys' GC response. We found no evidence that weekly variation in GC levels between groups resulted from differences in food availability. Our results indicate that mantled howler monkey GC levels respond to the effects of agonism, reproductive state, and the influence of a seasonal stressor, which may be attributable to anthropogenic disturbance. We conclude that psychosocial stressors affect the GC response of mantled howler monkeys, and that this response is modulated by reproductive state.
Subject(s)
Agonistic Behavior , Alouatta/physiology , Alouatta/psychology , Feeding Behavior , Glucocorticoids/metabolism , Social Behavior , Stress, Psychological , Animals , Ecosystem , Feces , Female , Food Supply , Glucocorticoids/isolation & purification , Lactation/physiology , Lactation/psychology , Locomotion/physiology , Male , Mexico , Pregnancy/physiology , Pregnancy/psychology , SeasonsABSTRACT
This study is concerned with the removal of the anti-inflammatory dexamethasone from aqueous solution and hospital wastewater by electrocoagulation. The variation of the toxicity during the electrocoagulation was also studied through experiments that were designed and optimized by means of response surface methodology. The coagulation efficiency was evaluated by measuring the dexamethasone concentration by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector. In addition, variation was evaluated through a Vibrio fischeri test. The results showed an increase in the removal of dexamethasone (up to 38.1%) with a rise of the current applied and a decrease of the inter-electrode distance, in aqueous solutions. The application to hospital effluent showed similar results for the removal of dexamethasone. The main effect of the electrocoagulation was that it removed colloids and reduced the organic load of the hospital wastewater. Regarding the current applied, the calculated energy efficiency was 100%. Without pH adjustment of the aqueous solution or hospital wastewater, the residual aluminum concentration always remained lower than 10 mg L(-1), and, with adjustment (to pH 6.5), lower than 0.30 mg L(-1), at the final stage. No toxicity variation was observed during the electrocoagulation process in aqueous solution, either in the presence or absence of dexamethasone.
Subject(s)
Dexamethasone/isolation & purification , Electrochemical Techniques , Glucocorticoids/isolation & purification , Hospitals , Waste Management , Wastewater/chemistry , Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification , Aliivibrio fischeri/drug effects , Dexamethasone/toxicity , Glucocorticoids/toxicity , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicityABSTRACT
Analysis of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites provides a powerful noninvasive tool for monitoring adrenocortical activity in wild animals. However, differences regarding the metabolism and excretion of these substances make a validation for each species and sex investigated obligatory. Although maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) are the biggest canids in South America, their behaviour and physiology are poorly known and they are at risk in the wild. Two methods for measuring glucocorticoid metabolites in maned wolves were validated: a radio- and an enzyme immunoassay. An ACTH challenge was used to demonstrate that changes in adrenal function are reflected in faecal glucocorticoid metabolites. Our results suggest that both methods enable a reliable assessment of stress hormones in maned wolves avoiding short-term rises in glucocorticoid concentrations due to handling and restraint. These methods can be used as a valuable tool in studies of stress and conservation in this wild species.(AU)
A análise de metabólitos de glicocorticóides fecais é uma ferramenta não-invasiva poderosa para o monitoramento da atividade adrenal em animais silvestres. Entretanto, diferenças no metabolismo e na excreção dessas substâncias tornam obrigatória a validação desse método para cada espécie e sexo investigado. Embora os lobos guarás (Chrysocyon brachyurus) sejam os maiores canídeos da América do Sul, seu comportamento e fiisiologia são ainda pouco conhecidos e estes animais são ameaçados. Dois métodos para mensuração de metabólitos de glicocorticóides em lobos guarás foram validados: um radio- e um enzima- imuno-ensaio. Um desafiio de ACTH foi usado para demonstrar que alterações no funcionamento adrenal podem ser detectadas nas concentrações metabólitos de glicocorticóides fecais. Nossos resultados sugerem que ambos os métodos possibilitam uma avaliação confiiável dos hormônios relacionados ao estresse em lobos guarás, evitando assim aumentos de curta duração nas concentrações glicocorticóides, devidos ao manejo e contenção. Esses métodos podem ser usados como uma ferramenta valiosa em estudos de estresse e conservação com essa espécie silvestre.(AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Wolves/physiology , Adrenal Glands/anatomy & histology , Adrenal Glands/metabolism , Feces/chemistry , Glucocorticoids/isolation & purification , Stress, PhysiologicalABSTRACT
Analysis of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites provides a powerful noninvasive tool for monitoring adrenocortical activity in wild animals. However, differences regarding the metabolism and excretion of these substances make a validation for each species and sex investigated obligatory. Although maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) are the biggest canids in South America, their behaviour and physiology are poorly known and they are at risk in the wild. Two methods for measuring glucocorticoid metabolites in maned wolves were validated: a radio- and an enzyme immunoassay. An ACTH challenge was used to demonstrate that changes in adrenal function are reflected in faecal glucocorticoid metabolites. Our results suggest that both methods enable a reliable assessment of stress hormones in maned wolves avoiding short-term rises in glucocorticoid concentrations due to handling and restraint. These methods can be used as a valuable tool in studies of stress and conservation in this wild species.
A análise de metabólitos de glicocorticóides fecais é uma ferramenta não-invasiva poderosa para o monitoramento da atividade adrenal em animais silvestres. Entretanto, diferenças no metabolismo e na excreção dessas substâncias tornam obrigatória a validação desse método para cada espécie e sexo investigado. Embora os lobos guarás (Chrysocyon brachyurus) sejam os maiores canídeos da América do Sul, seu comportamento e fiisiologia são ainda pouco conhecidos e estes animais são ameaçados. Dois métodos para mensuração de metabólitos de glicocorticóides em lobos guarás foram validados: um radio- e um enzima- imuno-ensaio. Um desafiio de ACTH foi usado para demonstrar que alterações no funcionamento adrenal podem ser detectadas nas concentrações metabólitos de glicocorticóides fecais. Nossos resultados sugerem que ambos os métodos possibilitam uma avaliação confiiável dos hormônios relacionados ao estresse em lobos guarás, evitando assim aumentos de curta duração nas concentrações glicocorticóides, devidos ao manejo e contenção. Esses métodos podem ser usados como uma ferramenta valiosa em estudos de estresse e conservação com essa espécie silvestre.