Abstract
Cortisol concentration (CC) is often used as a stress indicator in animals, as high CC is associated with elevated stress levels. During field research, non-invasive methods of measuring CC, such as collection of urine and feces, are superior to using blood samples when monitoring free-ranging animals’ stress levels. However, due to different metabolic pathways, whether CC can be detected in urine and feces to reliably assess stress varies across species. Therefore, it is important to ascertain whether urine and fecal samples are a reliable source for determining CCs and to determine a suitable sampling regime. In this study, we subjected three captive adult golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) to a high-stress situation (capture and injection). Urine and feces were collected for four days before and for four days after the manipulations for laboratory analysis. Immunoreactive CC was detected with a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit and showed distinct rises. Peak CC values in urine were detected within 5 h, while peak fecal CC ranged between 5 and 24 hours post-interference. These results provide evidence that CC in urine and feces can be used to assess stress levels in the golden snub-nosed monkey. The optimal time frame to collect urinary and fecal samples for CC analysis is within one day of a potential stressful event.
Highlights
Cortisol, the primary glucocorticoid of primates, is released in response to stress (Fagot et al, 2014; Whitten, Brockman & Stavisky, 1998)
TT had significantly higher baseline urinary and fecal cortisol levels compared to QQ, and significantly higher baseline urinary cortisol levels than SN (U39, 29=120, p
(capture and injection), our results clearly demonstrate the suitability of the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to reliably detect alterations in immunoreactive CC in urine and feces of golden snub-nosed monkeys
Summary
The primary glucocorticoid of primates, is released in response to stress (Fagot et al, 2014; Whitten, Brockman & Stavisky, 1998). Cortisol is the prominent biological active glucocorticoid in most primate species, only traces of native cortisol may exist in the urine and feces of particular species, as it is usually converted into various metabolites before being excreted (Hämäläinen et al, 2014; Möstl & Palme, 2002). Bahr et al (2000) measured cortisol and several metabolites, and found that native cortisol was a major urinary excretory product in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), while only small amounts were present in the urine of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). The lag time is comparatively consistent for primates; 2.5 h in common marmosets, 4.8 h in chimpanzees, 5.5 h in long-tailed macaques, and 4.5 h in baboons (Papio cynocephalus cynocephalus)
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