Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Live Microbial Cultures on Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Safari Asian Elephants

Author(s):  
D. Chharang ◽  
S. Choudhary ◽  
V. Kumar ◽  
S. Sharma ◽  
P. C. Sharma ◽  
...  

Background: Wildlife tourism has been shown to increase stress in a variety of species and can negatively affect the survival, reproduction, welfare, and behaviour of individuals. The use of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites has favoured the development of non-invasive methods to study physiological conditions and could aid in successful and effective strategies for the management and conservation of endangered species. Methods: An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of live microbial cultures to find patterns of physiological stress hormone in faeces of 18 safari Asian elephants of 30-62 years age and body weight (3495 ± 133.34 Kg) for two months. They were randomly divided into three groups, with six elephants in each, i.e. control with no probiotic (T1) and the other two with probiotics, which contained 1 × 109 CFU/g concentrate of Lactobacillus acidophilus (T2) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (T3) @ every 50 kg body weight per day. Faecal samples were taken on 0, 30th, 40th and 50th day of the experiment. Result: It was observed that the mean faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, demonstrated by the elephants of T2, and T3 groups were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from the control group (T1) and remained unaffected on the supplementation of live microbial cultures.

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 987
Author(s):  
Şeyda Özkan Gülzari ◽  
Grete Helen Meisfjord Jørgensen ◽  
Svein Morten Eilertsen ◽  
Inger Hansen ◽  
Snorre Bekkevold Hagen ◽  
...  

Several non-invasive methods for assessing stress responses have been developed and validated for many animal species. Due to species-specific differences in metabolism and excretion of stress hormones, methods should be validated for each species. The aim of this study was to conduct a physiological validation of an 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for measuring faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) in male reindeer by administration of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH; intramuscular, 0.25 mg per animal). A total of 317 samples were collected from eight male reindeer over a 44 h period at Tverrvatnet in Norway in mid-winter. In addition, 114 samples were collected from a group of reindeer during normal handling and calf marking at Stjernevatn in Norway. Following ACTH injection, FCM levels (median and range) were 568 (268–2415) ng/g after two hours, 2718 (414–8550) ng/g after seven hours and 918 (500–6931) ng/g after 24 h. Levels were significantly higher from seven hours onwards compared to earlier hours (p < 0.001). The FCM levels at Stjernevatn were significantly (p < 0.001) different before (samples collected zero to two hours; median: 479 ng/g) and after calf marking (eight to ten hours; median: 1469 ng/g). Identification of the faecal samples belonging to individual animals was conducted using DNA analysis across time. This study reports a successful validation of a non-invasive technique for measuring stress in reindeer, which can be applied in future studies in the fields of biology, ethology, ecology, animal conservation and welfare.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Gabina V. Eguizábal ◽  
Mariella Superina ◽  
Rupert Palme ◽  
Camila J. Asencio ◽  
Daniel P. Villarreal ◽  
...  

Management procedures affect behavioural and physiological stress responses of wild mammals under human care. According to the Reactive Scope Model, normal values are presumed to exist within predictive and reactive ranges. First, stress parameters of zoo-housed adult Tamandua tetradactyla were evaluated in winter and summer (29 days each), determining the level of behaviour and/or physiological parameters needed to respond to predictable environmental changes. Secondly, the effects of veterinary procedures and transportation were studied in both seasons. Non-invasive methods were applied, assessing behaviour through videos and adrenocortical activity by faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs). Lesser anteaters exhibited seasonality (summer > winter) in some behavioural parameters, such as nocturnal activities, as well as in the activity cycle (e.g., acrophase) and FGMs. A veterinary check elicited an increase in total activity (TA), natural behaviours and repetitive locomotion and affected the activity cycle, particularly in summer. Transport produced changes in TA, nocturnal and natural activity and some variables of the activity cycle, mostly during summer. Although the effects of routine management procedures were different from each other and presumably stressful, they elicited changes only at the behavioural level, which was greater during summer. The differences observed according to non-invasive methodologies highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in this context and suggest that it is unlikely that individual welfare was affected.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Vitas Atmadi Prakoso ◽  
Kurniawan Kurniawan

Inefficient feed management strategy in aquaculture will increase the fish production cost. One of the most effective strategies to solve this problem is through a better understanding of the compensatory growth of cultured fish. O. niloticus BEST tilapia strain (total length: 7.23 ± 0.11 cm mean ± SD; Body weight: 7.04 ± 0.08 g mean ± SD) were reared in aquariums at 26.3 ± 1.4oC for 10 weeks. During the experiment, the control group was fed twice a day. The other two groups were deprived of food for one and two weeks and then fed twice a day during refeeding period. At the end of the experiment, the fish deprived for one week had a body weight, biomass and specific growth rate that were not significantly different from the control group. The body weight, biomass and specific growth rate of fish deprived for two weeks were significantly lower than the other groups. This study revealed that concentrations of ash and lower concentrations of protein and lipid on the deprived groups were higher compared to those without feed deprivation. Mortality of fish was lower than 9% and not significantly different among the treatments. Fish aggressive behavior was the main reason for injuries and death. Given the results, BEST tilapia strain was only able to reach complete growth compensation not longer than one week deprivation period. The results of the present study could be applied as basic information for further research on feeding management of BEST tilapia strain. 


Author(s):  
S.K. Stead ◽  
D.G.A. Meltzer ◽  
R. Palme

Conventionally, the assessment of adrenal responses to stress relies on blood sample collection. However, blood collection from animals is impossible without restraint or immobilisation that influences results. This study was undertaken to validate recently established enzyme immunoassays that measure faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in elephants, and to perform a preliminary investigation into the biological relevance of this non-invasive method for use in assessing the degree of stress in this species. Four juvenile African elephants were injected i.m. with 2.15 mg synthetic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (Synacthén, Novartis, Switzerland). Blood and faecal samples were collected over 4 h and 7 d respectively. Concentrations of serum cortisol and faecal cortisol metabolites were determined using immunoassay. Variability of basal and peak values in blood and faeces was observed among the elephants. After ACTH injection, serum cortisol concentrations increased by 400-700 %. An 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) proved best suited to measure cortisol metabolites (11,17-dioxoandrostanes) when compared to a cortisol and corticosterone EIA in faecal samples. Concentrations of faecal 11,17-dioxoandrostanes increased by 570-1070 %, reaching peak levels after 20.0-25.5 h. Greater levels of glucocorticoid metabolites were measured in faecal samples from elephants kept in small enclosures compared to levels in the faeces of animals ranging over a larger area. The results of this preliminary study suggest that non-invasive faecal monitoring of glucocorticoid metabolites is useful in investigating adrenal activity in African elephants.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-558
Author(s):  
Sunarno Sunarno ◽  
Hajar Sokmawati ◽  
Rully Rahadian

Physiological stress for a long time can lead to impaired kidney organ function. Snakehead fish meat are known to contain important nutrients such as albumin, glutamine, glycine, cysteine, and various minerals that can improve kidney function. This study was conducted to examine and analyze the effect of snakehead fish supplementation in feed towards body weight, kidney weight, diameter and number of glomerulus in Wistar rats with physiological stress. This study used 20 male Wistar rats divided into 5 groups consisted of 1 control group (P0) and 4 treatment groups (P1: 5%, P2: 10%, P3: 15%, P4: 20%). The treatments were performed with 4 times repetition. This study used Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The variables measured were body weight, kidney weight, diameter and number of renal glomerulus. The data obtained were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 5% significance level and continued with Duncan test with 5% significance level. The results of this study were: the supplementation of snakehead fish with 20% of concentration can increase the body weight; concentration 10; 15; and 20% can increase the weight of the kidney; concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% can increase the glomerular diameter in Wistar rats with physiological stress. The supplementation of snakehead fish with concentration of 5% to 20% did not affect the number of glomerulus of Wistar rats with physiological stress. Results of this study is useful as information for people who study the mechanism of kidney repair due to physiological stress.


2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Y. Jung ◽  
Sung C. Jun ◽  
Un J. Chang ◽  
Hyung J. Suh

Previously, we have found that the addition of L-ascorbic acid to chitosan enhanced the reduction in body weight gain in guinea pigs fed a high-fat diet. We hypothesized that the addition of L-ascorbic acid to chitosan would accelerate the reduction of body weight in humans, similar to the animal model. Overweight subjects administered chitosan with or without L-ascorbic acid for 8 weeks, were assigned to three groups: Control group (N = 26, placebo, vehicle only), Chito group (N = 27, 3 g/day chitosan), and Chito-vita group (N = 27, 3 g/day chitosan plus 2 g/day L-ascorbic acid). The body weights and body mass index (BMI) of the Chito and Chito-vita groups decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the Control group. The BMI of the Chito-vita group decreased significantly compared to the Chito group (Chito: -1.0 kg/m2 vs. Chito-vita: -1.6 kg/m2, p < 0.05). The results showed that the chitosan enhanced reduction of body weight and BMI was accentuated by the addition of L-ascorbic acid. The fat mass, percentage body fat, body circumference, and skinfold thickness in the Chito and Chito-vita groups decreased more than the Control group; however, these parameters were not significantly different between the three groups. Chitosan combined with L-ascorbic acid may be useful for controlling body weight.


2006 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukari Egashira ◽  
Shin Nagaki ◽  
Hiroo Sanada

We investigated the change of tryptophan-niacin metabolism in rats with puromycin aminonucleoside PAN-induced nephrosis, the mechanisms responsible for their change of urinary excretion of nicotinamide and its metabolites, and the role of the kidney in tryptophan-niacin conversion. PAN-treated rats were intraperitoneally injected once with a 1.0% (w/v) solution of PAN at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. The collection of 24-hour urine was conducted 8 days after PAN injection. Daily urinary excretion of nicotinamide and its metabolites, liver and blood NAD, and key enzyme activities of tryptophan-niacin metabolism were determined. In PAN-treated rats, the sum of urinary excretion of nicotinamide and its metabolites was significantly lower compared with controls. The kidneyα-amino-β-carboxymuconate-ε-semialdehyde decarboxylase (ACMSD) activity in the PAN-treated group was significantly decreased by 50%, compared with the control group. Although kidney ACMSD activity was reduced, the conversion of tryptophan to niacin tended to be lower in the PAN-treated rats. A decrease in urinary excretion of niacin and the conversion of tryptophan to niacin in nephrotic rats may contribute to a low level of blood tryptophan. The role of kidney ACMSD activity may be minimal concerning tryptophan-niacin conversion under this experimental condition.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (01) ◽  
pp. 057-061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis W T Nilsen ◽  
Lasse Gøransson ◽  
Alf-Inge Larsen ◽  
Øyvind Hetland ◽  
Peter Kierulf

SummaryOne hundred patients were included in a randomized open trial to assess the systemic factor Xa (FXa) and thrombin inhibitory effect as well as the safety profile of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) given subcutaneously in conjunction with streptokinase (SK) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). The treatment was initiated prior to SK, followed by repeated injections every 12 h for 7 days, using a dose of 150 anti-Xa units per kg body weight. The control group received unfractionated heparin (UFH) 12,500 IU subcutaneously every 12 h for 7 days, initiated 4 h after start of SK infusion. All patients received acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) initiated prior to SK.Serial blood samples were collected prior to and during the first 24 h after initiation of SK infusion for determination of prothrombin fragment 1+2 (Fl+2), thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complexes, fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and cardiac enzymes. Bleeding complications and adverse events were carefully accounted for.Infarct characteristics, as judged by creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT), were similar in both groups of patients.A comparable transient increase in Fl+2, TAT and FPA was noted irrespective of heparin regimen. Increased anti-Xa activity in patients given LMWH prior to thrombolytic treatment had no impact on indices of systemic thrombin activation.The incidence of major bleedings was significantly higher in patients receiving LMWH as compared to patients receiving UFH. However, the occurrence of bleedings was modified after reduction of the initial LMWH dose to 100 anti-Xa units per kg body weight.In conclusion, systemic FXa- and thrombin activity following SK-infusion in patients with acute MI was uninfluenced by conjunctive LMWH treatment.


Author(s):  
Ni Made Ridla Parwata

Overtraining syndrome is a decrease in physical capacity, emotions and immunity due to training that is too often without adequate periods of rest. Overtraining is often experienced by athletes who daily undergo heavy training with short break periods. This research aims to look at the effect of overtraining aerobic physical exercise on memory in mice. The research method was experimental in vivo with the subject of adult male rat (Rattus Norvegicus) Winstar strain aged 8-10 weeks, body weight 200-250 gr. Divided into three groups, namely the control group, aerobic group and overtraining group. The results of memory tests with water E Maze showed an increase in the duration of travel time and the number of animal errors made by the overtraining group (p = 0.003). This study concludes that overtraining aerobic physical exercise can reduce memory in rat hippocampus.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-327
Author(s):  
Pelastri Rahayu ◽  
◽  
Retno Hestiningsih ◽  
Martini Martini ◽  
Dwi Sutiningsih ◽  
...  

The prevalence of DM in Riskesdas in 2018 according to the Perkeni consensus in 2015 is higher than according to the Perkeni consensus in 2011, the prevalence was10.9%. The disease can develop into diabetes nephropathy, Increased prevalence of diabetic nephropathy directly proportional with an increase in diabetes prevalence. Diabetic nephropathy is a microvascular complication in diabetics that develops around 30% in patients with type I DM and about 40% in patients with type II DM. Turmeric extract has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to prevent the bad development of diabetes nephropathy. This study looked at the effect of giving a combination of noni and turmeric extract on histopathology of alloxan-induced renal rats. A total of 25 mice were divided into 5 treatment groups, namely the PI group (250 mg / kgBB extract dose), PII group (500 mg / kgBB extract dose), PIII group (750 mg / kgBB extract dose), positive control group (glibenklamid) and negative control group (without extract and glibenklamid). The study used Post Test Only Group. The highest percentage decrease in blood glucose in the PI group was 56.11% and the lowest decrease in the PIII group was 24.12% with p = 0.012. The results of the study were not based on the number of extract doses. The measurement results of rat body weight and glomerular diameter were not affected by blood glucose level with p = 0.700 for body weight and p = 0.187 for glomerular measurement results.


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