scholarly journals Indexing Baselines: Determining Physiological Stress in Rescued Orphaned Koala Joeys Under Rehabilitation by Comparing Faecal Cortisol Levels Between Healthy and Impaired Individuals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harsh Pahuja ◽  
Edward Narayan
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
First Record ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Endocrine Function ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Baseline Approach

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an iconic folivorous marsupial native to the sclerophyll forests and woodlands of Australia. Due to the ever-changing habitat, this species is highly vulnerable to anthropogenic factors such as habitat loss and fragmentation, and this is reflected in the increasing number of injured and/or diseased koalas over the years. The majority of adult koalas admitted at wildlife hospitals are deceased, either due to natural causes, or have to be euthanized. Thus, orphaned koala joeys constitute a substantial number of wildlife rescues, and mortality is also prevalent in koala joeys being hand-reared/rehabilitated, with little knowledge about the causes of such high rates of mortality. Wildlife hospitals/rehabilitation centres are inherently stressful, and although the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis plays a vital role in mediating the stress endocrine function (by producing glucocorticoids such as cortisol), there are no studies quantifying glucocorticoids in koala joeys. To contribute to this dearth of research, we sampled a total of seven individuals residing at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and noted their clinical information. Faecal samples were collected from all seven koala joeys during routine cage cleaning. In total, 123 faecal samples were collected, processed and analysed for cortisol using enzyme-immunoassay (EIA). We used the iterative baseline approach to determine baseline and peak concentrations of FCM in koala joeys. Baseline concentrations ranged between 14.11 ng/g – 51.10 ng/g (healthy – sick), whereas, peak FCM concentrations ranged between 25.65 ng/g – 56.58 ng/g (healthy – sick). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between FCM concentrations of healthy and impaired individuals. Healthy individuals displayed relatively consistent FCM concentrations, whereas, diseased individuals displayed a significant increase in FCM concentrations over time. Our study provides the first record of baseline and peak FCM concentrations in rescued koala joeys with their associated clinical condition. Future studies can use the iterative baseline approach to determine FCM concentration in wild koala joeys that can serve as a baseline to compare glucocorticoid levels of rescued joeys.

scholarly journals Physiological Stress in Rescued Wild Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) Being Held in a Rehabilitation Sanctuary: A Pilot Study

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2864
Author(s):  
Renae Charalambous ◽  
Troy Simonato ◽  
Matthew Peel ◽  
Edward J. Narayan
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Stress System ◽  
Cortisol Response ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Acute And Chronic Stress ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Wildlife Rehabilitation ◽  
Cortisol Responses

Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are one of Australia’s most charismatic native small marsupial species. Unfortunately, populations of koalas are rapidly declining throughout Australia as they continue to face increasing pressure from a changing ecosystem. All wildlife species to some degree will use their hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in response to stress. Depending on the duration of activation, the stress response can lead to either acute or chronic side effects and is modulated through the neuroendocrine stress system with the release of catecholamines and glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol). It is well known that rehabilitation sanctuaries are inherently stressful for all animals, in particular for rescued wild koalas, as it is an unfamiliar environment where the animals cannot predict or control what will happen to them. In this pilot study, we set out to quantify faecal and fur cortisol metabolites in wild rescued koalas undergoing wildlife rehabilitation. Absolute levels of acute and chronic stress were indexed non-invasively, with faecal samples taken to evaluate acute stress, and fur samples taken to evaluate chronic stress. Sampling occurred sporadically over four months (the start of September 2018 to the end of December 2018), and was performed on three rescued koalas (Maree, Tai, and Solstice) being held at the rehabilitation centre. Results of this study show that between the three koalas, the highest recorded faecal cortisol result was 241 ng/g, and the lowest recorded faecal cortisol result was 4 ng/g, whereas the highest recorded fur cortisol result was 1.75 ng/g, and the lowest recorded fur cortisol result was 0.10 ng/g. Statistically, there was a significant difference between all three koalas and their faecal cortisol responses, as well as their fur cortisol responses. Statistically for Maree and Solstice, there was a significant difference in their faecal cortisol response between days when a stressor was recorded, and days when a stressor was not recorded. However, statistically for Tai, this was not the case, as there was no significant difference in his faecal cortisol response between days when a stressor was recorded, and days when a stressor was not recorded. In summary, the hypothesis that faecal glucocorticoids and fur glucocorticoids between koalas will differ based on individual responses to stressors was true as a whole, but individually, this hypothesis was true for Maree and Solstice, but untrue for Tai. The use of biological samples such as faeces and fur to obtain readings of glucocorticoids is a method of measuring absolute levels of physiological stress that is still evolving for koalas, and there is no current glucocorticoid baseline with which to compare the results of this study; although, measuring faecal and fur glucocorticoids is the first step in understanding how koalas undergoing wildlife rehabilitation respond to stressors.

scholarly journals Applications of minimally invasive immune response and glucocorticoid biomarkers of physiological stress responses in rescued wild koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

2020 ◽  
pp. 255-268
Author(s):  
Edward J. Narayan ◽  
Renae Charalambous
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Clinical Intervention ◽  
Habitat Modification ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Wildlife Rehabilitation

Australasian biodiversity is facing immense challenges with losses of prime habitats and food sources through increased anthropogenic factors such as climate change, bushfires, and habitat modification. Wildlife species are requiring greater conservation intervention supported through numerous wildlife rescue and rehabilitation programmes in this region. It is important to record the physiological stress responses of rescued wildlife and currently available conservation physiology tools can certainly aid the conservation management and rehabilitation of rescued wildlife. In this chapter, we showcase the applications of minimally invasive stress hormone and immune response (haematological blood cell profiling) biomarkers using case studies of rescued koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) to quantify their physiological stress responses to environmental trauma and disease conditions, and clinical intervention. Applications of these physiological biomarkers can advance our understanding of how wildlife respond towards and cope with environmental challenges and support conservation goals of rescue centres to strengthen wildlife rehabilitation and release back to the wild once the proximate stressors have been eliminated.

A Computer-based Clinical Information System

1987 ◽  
Vol 26 (04) ◽  
pp. 189-194
Author(s):  
S. S. El-Gamal
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Hospital Information System ◽  
Clinical Information System ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Specialized Hospital ◽  
Computer Based

SummaryModern information technology offers new opportunities for the storage and manipulation of hospital information. A computer-based hospital information system, dedicated to urology and nephrology, was designed and developed in our center. It involves in principle the employment of a program that allows the analysis of non-restricted, non-codified texts for the retrieval and processing of clinical data and its operation by non-computer-specialized hospital staff.This Hospital Information System now plays a vital role in the efficient provision of a good quality service and is used in daily routine and research work in this hospital. This paper describes this specialized Hospital Information System.

Service Quality Perception towards E-CRM Practices among Customers of Private and Public Sector Banks of Rajasthan Using SERVQUAL Method

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Neeti Kasliwal ◽  
Jagriti Singh
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Public Sector Banks ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Score Method ◽  
Public Banks

Banking sector is growing rapidly and playing a vital role in the economic development of the nation. Both private and public sector banks are giving more priority to service quality to satisfy their customers. For this, banks are now emphasizing on E-CRM practices to carry out transactions and communicate with their customers. The purpose of this research is to assess the service quality among private and public banks in Rajasthan. Purposive sampling technique has been employed to collect the data from three private banks and three banks from public. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, Mean score method and t test have been used. Results indicates that there is a significant difference in consumer’s perception of service quality dimensions related to E-CRM practices provided by selected private and public sector banks of Rajasthan..The findings of this research will help policy makers of banking sector to set customer oriented policies.

scholarly journals Diversity of Epibionts Associated with Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz 1829) Sea Turtles Nesting in the Mexican South Pacific

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1734
Author(s):  
Brenda Sarahí Ramos-Rivera ◽  
Himmer Castro-Mondragon ◽  
José Gabriel Kuk-Dzul ◽  
Pedro Flores-Rodríguez ◽  
Rafael Flores-Garza
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
First Record ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Interspecific Relationships ◽  
Lepidochelys Olivacea ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Head Neck

The present study contributes to the knowledge of epibionts recorded on sea turtles that nested on a beach in the South Pacific of Mexico. A total of 125 Lepidochelys olivacea turtles nested on Llano Real beach, Guerrero, Mexico, were examined. We collected 450 conspicuous organisms from 8 species from 43 turtles. The corresponding data analysis was carried out to obtain the relative abundance, the relationship between turtle sizes and the presence of organisms, the similarity of species between the sampling months, and the interspecific relationships between the epibionts and the turtles observed. Chelonibia testudinaria was the most abundant species, while Remora remora was the least abundant species. The turtles were divided into six body sections, with the greatest abundance of these organisms located in the head–neck section of turtles, and there was a significant difference in the size of the turtles that presented epibionts and those that did not. C. testudinaria showed greater similarity between sampling months, and the interspecific relationships recorded were commensalism, parasitism, amensalism, and protocooperation. This research contributes the first record of epibionts in L. olivacea nesting in Guerrero, Mexico.

scholarly journals Correlation between angiographic transit times and neurological status on admission in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

2016 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 1093-1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Ivanov ◽  
Andreas Linninger ◽  
Chih-Yang Hsu ◽  
Sepideh Amin-Hanjani ◽  
Victor A. Aletich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Angiography Suite ◽  
Transit Times ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

OBJECT The use of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for semiquantitative cerebral blood flow(CBF) assessment is a new technique. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) with higher Hunt and Hess grades also had higher angiographic contrast transit times (TTs) than patients with lower grades. METHODS A cohort of 30 patients with aSAH and 10 patients without aSAH was included. Relevant clinical information was collected. A method to measure DSA TTs by color-coding reconstructions from DSA contrast-intensity images was applied. Regions of interest (ROIs) were chosen over major cerebral vessels. The estimated TTs included time-to-peak from 0% to 100% (TTP0–100), TTP from 25% to 100% (TTP25–100), and TT from 100% to 10% (TT100–10) contrast intensities. Statistical analysis was used to compare TTs between Group A (Hunt and Hess Grade I-II), Group B (Hunt and Hess Grade III-IV), and the control group. The correlation coefficient was calculated between different ROIs in aSAH groups. RESULTS There was no difference in demographic factors between Group A (n = 10), Group B (n = 20), and the control group (n = 10). There was a strong correlation in all TTs between ROIs in the middle cerebral artery (M1, M2) and anterior cerebral artery (A1, A2). There was a statistically significant difference between Groups A and B in all TT parameters for ROIs. TT100–10 values in the control group were significantly lower than the values in Group B. CONCLUSIONS The DSA TTs showed significant correlation with Hunt and Hess grades. TT delays appear to be independent of increased intracranial pressure and may be an indicator of decreased CBF in patients with a higher Hunt and Hess grade. This method may serve as an indirect technique to assess relative CBF in the angiography suite.

Combined evaluation of genotype and phenotype of thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) in the clinical management of patients in chronic therapy with azathioprine

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Rucci ◽  
Maria Sole Cigoli ◽  
Valeria Marini ◽  
Carmen Fucile ◽  
Francesca Mattioli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Variant Allele ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Chronic Therapy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Combined Evaluation

Abstract Background The thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT)/azathioprine (AZA) gene-drug pair is one of the most well-known pharmacogenetic markers. Despite this, few studies investigated the implementation of TPMT testing and the combined evaluation of genotype and phenotype in multidisciplinary clinical settings where patients are undergoing chronic therapy with AZA. Methods A total of 356 AZA-treated patients for chronic autoimmune diseases were enrolled. DNA was isolated from whole blood and the samples were analyzed for the c.460G>A and c.719A>G variants by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique and sequenced for the c.238G>C variant. The TPMT enzyme activity was determined in erythrocytes by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay. Results All the patients enrolled were genotyped while the TPMT enzyme activity was assessed in 41 patients. Clinical information was available on 181 patients. We found no significant difference in the odds of having adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in wild-type patients and variant allele carriers, but the latter had an extra risk of experiencing hematologically adverse events. The enzyme activity was significantly associated to genotype. Conclusions TPMT variant allele carriers have an extra risk of experiencing hematologically adverse events compared to wild-type patients. Interestingly, only two out of 30 (6.6%) patients had discordant results between genotype, phenotype and onset of ADRs.

scholarly journals Parasitology and urban livestock farming in Nigeria : prevalence of ova in faecal and soil samples and animal ectoparasites in Makurdi

2007 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E.A. Omudu ◽  
E.U. Amuta
Keyword(s):  
Test Tube ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Flotation Technique ◽  
Chi Square Analysis

Domestic environmental pollution resulting from urban livestock farming was investigated in Makurdi using parasitological techniques. The test tube flotation technique was used for the parasitological analysis of animal faecal matter and soil samples collected from residential premises. Ectoparasitic fauna of dogs, goats, sheep and cattle cohabiting with humans within the same residential compound were also collected and identified. The hand-picking and body brushing methods were employed to search for ticks, fleas, lice and mites. Of the 150 soil samples examined, 55 (36.7 %) were positive for 1 or more eggs of helminth parasites. There was no significant difference in the distribution of eggs in the soil samples from the 3 areas sampled (c2=0.046, df=2, P>0.05). Ascaris species were the dominant parasite eggs found. Of the 180 faecal samples examined, 107 (59.4 %) were positive for 1 or more eggs of helminth parasites. Chi-square analysis showed no significant difference in the level of infection of different animal faeces sampled (c2=5.74, df=4, P>0.05). Ascaris species were again the dominating helminth parasite eggs found. There was also no significant difference in the prevalence of helminth eggs in the animal faecal samples from the 3 areas sampled (c2=5.99, df=4, P>0.05). A total of 1908 ectoparasites was recovered (ticks: 32.80 %; lice: 22.43 %; fleas: 22.06% and mite: 22.69 %). There was no significant difference in infestation animals between sexes (c2=0.10, df=4, P>0.05). The predominant genus encountered for ticks were Amblyomma, while Linognathus (43.90%), Ctenocephalides (97.38%) and Sarcoptes (58.89 %) were most predominant for lice, fleas and mites respectively. The public health implications of the findings, especially as these relate to the increasing incidence and prevalence of zoonotic infections, are discussed.

scholarly journals Diversity, Abundance, and Foraging Behavior of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Scavenging on American Cockroach in Various Habitats of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Ahmed Ashigar ◽  
Abdul Hafiz Ab Majid
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
American Cockroach ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Residential Communities ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Paratrechina Longicornis

Ants play a vital role in removing dead arthropods from the environment. Complex foraging patterns are used by ants to locate food items and overwhelm even larger insects such as cockroach. Consequently, the biotic interaction between the ants and the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, another home infesting and a vector of major food-borne diseases, may lead to microbial handover and ease the spread of mechanically transmitted human pathogenic microbes. This study was done to determine the diversity and abundance of cockroach-foraging ants in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Ten households were randomly selected from 14 locations: 5 residential communities from three most urbanized areas (Lafia, Akwanga, and Keffi) and 5 rural communities. Four remaining locations were nonresidential from Lafia and Akwanga, respectively. A total of 1,364 ants belonging to three subfamilies (Myrmicinae, Formicinae, and Ponerinae) were collected from 140 households. Pheidole rugaticeps Emery recorded the highest relative abundance (52%) followed by Pheidole decarinata Santschi (16%), Pheidole sp. (17%), Camponotus maculatus (7%), Paratrechina longicornis (7%), while both Crematogaster sp. and Brachyponera sennaarensis recorded the lowest relative abundance (1%). There is a significant difference in the species diversity between the urban and the rural communities. Pheidole rugaticeps, P. decarinata, Pheidole sp., and P. longicornis were more organized in foraging and operating in group by recruiting nest-mate for collecting fragments of dead cockroach. Studies on the epidemiology, conservation implications, and biocontrol potentials of these Pheidole species are recommended.

scholarly journals The Effect of Exercise on the Total Leukocyte, Absolute Neutrophil, Lymphocyte and Platelet Counts among Sudanese Football Players

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6-S) ◽  
pp. 26-32
Author(s):  
Nihad Elsadig Babiker ◽  
Raheeg Mubark Anwer
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Hematological Parameters ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Body ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Platelet Counts ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Age Variation

Background: Aerobic exercise induces physiological stress on the body and brings changes in hematological parameters. This study aimed to determine the effect of playing football as an exercise on the total white blood cell count, absolute Neutrophil, lymphocyte and Platelet counts among Sudanese football players. Material and method:  This was a descriptive case control study, done on a number of football players in Khartoum state, Sudan and conducted within the period from August 2021 to October 2021. Three ml of venous blood samples had been collected from every participant in the study, parameters had been measured and calculated using blood cells counter (Sysmex KX-21N).                                                           Results: When compared the TWBCs, Absolute Neutrophil, Lymphocytes and platelet counts between cases and control there was a significant differences with (P ≤0.05). Also there was a significant difference in the case group before and after one hour of exercise with (P =0.00), and in significant differences between different age groups with (P ≥0.05). Conclusion: Playing football for 1 hour cause a significant increase in the TWBCs, absolute Neutrophils, absolute Lymphocytes and Platelets counts. Age variation has no effect on the measured parameters Keywords: Football, TWBCs, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes and Platelets.

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