Short-term capture stress and its effects on corticosterone levels and heat shock proteins in captive American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are important mediators of the normal cellular function and the cellular stress response. As such, HSPs are often utilized to measure the effects of stressors on organisms in vivo. However, multiple variables can influence their expression, including time or season, confounding results. To investigate the utility of HSPs in measuring effects of stressors in a top trophic carnivore, we captured 20 American alligators, Alligator mississipiensis (Daudin, 1802), placed them in burlap sacks for 2 hours and collected blood samples over four time points (baseline, 1 and 2 hours after placement into burlap sacks, and 24 hours after initial capture) to measure plasma corticosterone (the main crocodilian glucocorticoid) and levels of HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90. Time point significantly affected plasma corticosterone levels in alligators (p < 0.0001), with levels significantly elevated at 1, 2, and 24 hours, relative to baseline (all p < 0.05). However, capture stress did not affect HSP60, HSP70, or HSP90 in red blood cells (all p > 0.05). Our results suggest HSPs may be important biomarkers for investigating the impacts of stressors on captive and wild crocodilians, since they are not acutely elevated by capture or handling stress.

Pelvic Limb Amputation in a Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) Traumatized by an Agricultural Harvester

Background: The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) returned to the category of vulnerable by the 2014 IUCN / SSC, due to the population reduction, less than 30%. The main reasons are: environmental degradation and fragmentation, being run over, burning, attacks by hunting dogs, illegal trade and diseases. It is very common to find these fractured patients and the treatment is mostly surgical. Amputation is indicated when there are extensive lacerations and when reconstructive surgery is not possible. The objective is to report a viable treatment option in fractured wild patients, contributing to the preservation of the species.Case: It was received at the Veterinary Hospital Dr. Halim Atique - UNIRP an young female giant anteater (M. tridactyla) weighing 5.75 kg, brought by the Environmental Forestry Police of the municipality of São José do Rio Preto - SP, found in the region of Olímpia at a gas station. The animal was traumatized by an agricultural harvester, with partial traumatic amputation in the left pelvic limb and tail. In the preoperative period, the patient was admitted to hospital under assisted care, analgesia and all the necessary support for stabilization. High amputation was performed, with hip disarticulation and treatment of the tail wound, which was initially opted for healing in the first intention, where sutures were used to approach the edges of the wound, but presented dehiscence and was treated as a second intention. There were almost 2 months of care with specific food, cleaning of the enclosures, medications and dressings. After 57 days of hospitalization, the patient was transferred to the Municipal Zoo of São José do Rio Preto - SP, where it was moved to a larger and ideal enclosure for the species, with other giant anteaters also rescued. Discussion: The rate of complex fractures in accidents with wild animals is high. Amputations are indicated for patients with extensive lacerations without possible reconstructions, the patient in the present study had partial amputation of the limb, and reconstruction was impossible. The amputation technique of choice was disarticulation of the hip, as it is important that the patient does not try to support the limb, to avoid further trauma. The adaptation of animals to amputation is satisfactory, however, it should be noted that these individuals must remain under observation in the postoperative period, must remain confined to small rooms to avoid complications such as hemorrhage, seroma, dehiscence and infection of the surgical wound. The multidisciplinary team specialized in the required areas must be trained for this type of service. Adaptation to the new hospital environment, adaptation without an amputated limb, different food from that found in nature, daily handling for dressings and the movement of people in the sector are precautions that we must have for the success of the treatment. The great challenge for the recovery of traumatized wild patients is capture stress, transport to the operating room, lack of adaptation to the hospital environment and use of protocols that are unsuitable for the species, factors that can compromise the success of the treatment. Amputation can be a viable treatment alternative for fractured giant anteaters, when bone reconstruction is not possible. The amputation was performed successfully, providing another opportunity for this patient and contributing to the preservation of the species.Keywords: fracture, amputation, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, giant anteater.

Prolonged Alteration of Neonate Traits Following Maternal Exposure to Fishing-Capture Stress During Late Pregnancy in a Chondrichthyan Species

For animals discarded after fishing capture (unwanted bycatch), the effects of fishing-capture stress can extend beyond immediate or delayed death, causing long-term, sub-lethal effects such as injuries and physiological, behavioral, immune, energetic, and reproductive consequences. Given the importance of successful reproduction for population recruitment, investigating reproductive impairment is essential, even more so for animals with low reproductive rates such as chondrichthyans. However, data for these species are lacking, even though the poor conservation status of many chondrichthyan populations and the threats from overexploitation and discard require a better understanding of fishing-capture stress consequences. In this study, we investigated the reproductive consequences of trawling and air exposure stress when experienced by southern fiddler rays (Trygonorrhina dumerilii) during late pregnancy, with a focus on neonatal traits. Compared with neonates from unstressed mothers, neonates born from mothers subjected to capture simulation had significantly lower body mass and yolk sac volume at birth, showed a granulocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio indicative of a stressed condition, reduced growth, altered burying behavior, reduced boldness, and swam for shorter distances after a simulated predator attack. Smaller size and lower growth rate might expose neonates to a higher rate of predation, and similarly, the altered burying and swimming behaviors may reduce their ability to escape from predators. Decreased boldness could impact neonate survival by reducing their ability to compete and obtain food and resources. Further investigations are needed, but these initial results suggest that capture stress suffered by pregnant rays may alter traits and survival of their offspring with consequences for recruitment and population abundance.

Free-living Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in an Urban Area in Brazil - Biochemical and Hematological Parameters

Background: Capybaras have found favorable conditions for survival and reproduction in green urban environments. In recent years, the population of these large rodents has been increasingly abundant in several brazilian cities such as Uberlândia, a municipality of the southeastern region with a Cerrado biome. Capybaras are important in the Brazilian Spotted Fever epidemiological chain, by amplifying infection rates of the vector population. However, knowledge of this host´s physiology is scarce. Thus, the aim of this work was to describe hematological and biochemical parameters of free-living capybaras groups in urbanized areas in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.Materials, Methods & Results: Capybaras were captured in 4 different locations of Uberlândia city, Minas Gerais state, including 1 Condominium (P1), 1 Private Market Garden (P2), 1 Private Club (P3) and 1 Municipal Park (P4). The animals were baited into an octagonal iron corral and chemically contained with anesthetic darts. After sedated, blood was collected from the femoral vein in tubes with and without EDTA. Biochemical evaluation, hematological analysis with differential leukocyte counts and search for Dirofilaria sp. were done. The blood count and biochemistry values obtained from animals of different ages, sex and sectors (P1, P2, P3 and P4) were submitted to the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, considering 95% significance. Values that had a normal distribution were subjected to ANOVA tests followed by Student's t-test. Values that did not follow normality were submitted to the Kruskal-Wallis test, to obtain a P-value, with a significance level of 95%. A total of 19 capybaras were captured: 4 in P1, 6 in P2, 4 in P3 and 5 in P4. From the 19 animals, 13 were females (68.42%) and 6 were males (31.57%), 12 adults (63.15%) and 7 juveniles (36.84%). Apart from occasional skin scars and moderate to intense Ambyomma spp. tick infestations, all captured animals were healthy on a broad examination. From 5 animals captured in P4, despite the use of anticoagulant, blood from 4 animals clotted fast. No microfilariae were found in the thick drop test in any of the 19 animals sampled, and in 2 adult female capybaras captured in P1, Kurloff cells were observed. Hematological and biochemical values presented no major differences when comparing sex and age. Nevertheless, differences in liver and kidney profile were observed between the capybara groups, including ALT, alkaline phosphorus, BUN and creatinine.Discussion: Blood from 4 animals clotted fast, despite the use of EDTA tubes. Blood clotting of samples with anticoagulant in this work could be associated with some physiological features inherent to capybaras. Many attempts were required to obtain enough blood from each individual due to the rapid hemostasis, what come in accordance with reports in literature. Kurloff cells were observed in 2 adult female capybaras captured in P1, which can be found in peripheral blood of female rodents during follicular phase of estrous cycle. Hematological and biochemical values differences in liver enzymes such as ALT and alkaline phosphorus, and kidney profile enzymes including BUN and creatinine could be associated to capture stress or dietetic variation between groups. Despite statistical relevant, the values were still in accordance with other works, although comparisons should be done with caution since various environments exert a diverse array of stimulus upon the animals such as parasitic, infective, stress, nutritional, social and undoubtedly blood parameters mirror them. In conclusion, this work contributes to the standardization of free-living capybaras' physiological parameters in urban areas.Keywords: capybaras, physiological parameters, enzymatic parameters, green urban environment, capture stress, fauna, biomes.

Psychometric properties of an English short version of the Trier Inventory for chronic Stress

Background Although a variety of instruments are available that capture stress experience, the assessment of chronic stress has been hindered by the lack of economical screening instruments. Recently, an English-language version of the Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress (TICS-EN) consisting of 57 items according to a systemic-requirement-resource model of health in nine subdomains of the chronic stress experience has been introduced. Methods We constructed a new 9-item short version of the TICS covering all nine subdomains and evaluated it in two samples (total N = 685). We then used confirmatory factor analysis to check factorial validity. Results This version showed a highly satisfactory model fit, was invariant across participant gender, demonstrated a very high correlation with the original TICS (r = .94), and showed a moderate correlation (r = .58) with a measure of perceived stress in the past month. Conclusions Therefore, this theoretically driven instrument can be recommended as a short version of the TICS in English language.

Psychometric Properties of an English Short Version of the Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress

Background: Although a variety of instruments are available that capture stress experience, the assessment of chronic stress has been hindered by the lack of economical screening instruments. Recently, an English-language version of the Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress (TICS-EN) consisting of 57 items according to a systemic-requirement-resource model of health in nine subdomains of the chronic stress experience has been introduced.Methods: We constructed a new 9-item short version of the TICS covering all nine subdomains and evaluated it in two samples (total N=685). We then used confirmatory factor analysis to check factorial validity.Results: This version showed a highly satisfactory model fit, was invariant across participant gender, demonstrated a very high correlation with the original TICS (r=.94), and showed a moderate correlation (r=.58) with a measure of perceived stress in the past month.Conclusions: Therefore, this theoretically driven instrument can be recommended as a short version of the TICS in English language.

Long-term capture and handling effects on body condition, reproduction and survival in a semi-aquatic mammal

In long-term individual-based field studies, several parameters need to be assessed repeatedly to fully understand the potential fitness effects on individuals. Often studies only evaluate capture stress that appears in the immediate weeks or breeding season and even long-term studies fail to evaluate the long-term effects of their capture procedures. We investigated effects of long-term repeated capture and handling of individuals in a large semi-aquatic rodent using more than 20 years of monitoring data from a beaver population in Norway. To investigate the effects, we corrected for ecological factors and analysed the importance of total capture and handling events, years of monitoring and deployment of telemetry devices on measures related to body condition, reproduction and survival of individual beavers. Body mass of dominant individuals decreased considerably with number of capture events (107 g per capture), but we found no statistically clear short or long-term effects of capture and handling on survival or other body condition indices. Annual litter size decreased with increasing number of captures among older individuals. Number of captures furthermore negatively affected reproduction in the beginning of the monitoring, but the effect decreased over the years, indicating habituation to repeated capture and handling. By assessing potential impacts on several fitness-related parameters at multiple times, we can secure the welfare of wild animal populations when planning and executing future conservation studies as well as ensure ecologically reliable research data.

Psychometric Properties of an English Short Version of the Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress

Background: Although a variety of instruments are available that capture stress experience, the assessment of chronic stress has been hindered by the lack of economical screening instruments. Recently, an English-language version of the Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress (TICS-EN) consisting of 57 items according to a systemic-requirement-resource model of health in nine subdomains of the chronic stress experience has been introduced. Methods: We constructed a new 9-item short version of the TICS covering all nine subdomains and evaluated it in two samples (total N=685). We then used confirmatory factor analysis to check factorial validity.Results: This version showed a highly satisfactory model fit, was invariant across participant gender, demonstrated a very high correlation with the original TICS (r=.94), and showed a moderate correlation (r=.58) with a measure of perceived stress in the past month. Conclusions: Therefore, this theoretically driven instrument can be recommended as a short version of the TICS in English language.