Non-invasive monitoring of glucocorticoid metabolites in brown hyaena (Hyaena brunnea) feces

dc.contributor.authorHulsman, Alma
dc.contributor.authorDalerum, Fredrik
dc.contributor.authorGanswindt, Andre
dc.contributor.authorMuenscher, Stefanie B.
dc.contributor.authorBertschinger, Hendrik Jan
dc.contributor.authorParis, Monique C.J.
dc.contributor.emailfredrik.dalerum@zoology.up.ac.zaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2011-10-03T07:16:00Z
dc.date.available2011-10-03T07:16:00Z
dc.date.issued2011-07
dc.description.abstractThe brown hyaena (Hyaena brunnea) is the least known of the large predators of southern Africa. The current IUCN status of the brown hyaena is “Near Threatened”, and there are conservation concerns related to a general lack of biological knowledge of the species. For instance, a better knowledge of the responses to environmental and social stressors would improve our abilities to sustainably manage brown hyaena populations in both captive and free-ranging environments. We conducted adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) challenges in one female and one male adult brown hyaena at Lion Park Zoo, South Africa, to validate measurements of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) in brown hyaena faeces via an enzyme linked immunoassay (EIA). We also measured gastrointestinal transit times (GIT times) and the GCM degradation in faeces left in ambient temperature for up to 32 hours to more reliably assess the use of this assay as a tool for non-invasive glucocorticoid measurements. Intramuscular injections of synthetic ACTH yielded GCM levels of 388% (female) and 2682% (male) above baseline with peak increases occurring 25- 40 hours post injection. The time delay of faecal GCM excretion approximately corresponded with food transit time in the brown hyaenas. Faecal GCM levels declined significantly over time since defecation. Our results provided a good validation that faecal GCM's accurately reflects circulating glucocorticoid stress hormones in brown hyaenas, but we highlight that samples have to be frozen immediately after defecation to avoid bias in the measurements due to bacterial degredation.en
dc.description.sponsorshipFinancial support was provided by Utrecht University. The National Graphic Society/Wait's foundation, the National Research Foundation of South Africa and the University of Pretoria research fellowship program.en_US
dc.description.urihttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1098-2361en_US
dc.identifier.citationHulsman, A, Dalerum, F, Ganswindt, A, Muenscher, S, Bertschinger, HJ & Paris, M 2011, 'Non-invasive monitoring of glucocorticoid metabolites in brown hyaena (Hyaena brunnea) feces', Zoo Biology, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 451-458.en
dc.identifier.issn0733-3188 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1098-2361 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1002/zoo.20325
dc.identifier.other6507085906
dc.identifier.otherG-9856-2014
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/17389
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherWiley-Blackwellen_US
dc.rightsWiley-Blackwell. The definite version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com. This article is embargoed by the publisher until July 2012.en
dc.subjectBrown hyaena (Hyaena brunnea)en
dc.subjectFaecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM)en
dc.subjectACTH challenge testen
dc.subjectGIT timesen
dc.subjectDegradation rateen
dc.subject.lcshFeces -- Examinationen
dc.subject.lcshGlucocorticoidsen
dc.titleNon-invasive monitoring of glucocorticoid metabolites in brown hyaena (Hyaena brunnea) fecesen
dc.typePostprint Articleen

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