IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Carloni, E.; Accorsi, P.A.; Viggiani, R. | |
| Non-Invasive Monitoring of Steroids in Hair: the Domestic Cat as a Model | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
The long term monitoring of steroids' production may provide crucial information on the reproductive biology, the social status and the welfare of wild animals. However, researchers have only limited opportunities to collect biological samples in the field, and currently sampled tissues, secretions or excreta (faeces, serum, saliva, urine) can at best deliver information on the endocrine profile of the previous 24-48 hours. The determination of steroids in hair presents several advantages: hair is easily and non-invasively sampled, does not entail health concerns, is conveniently preserved, and supplies a measure of the hormonal activity averaged over a chosen period, insensitive to the impact of acute stress, included that caused by handling and restraint during sampling procedures. A two-point sampling (shave and re-shave), that can be profitably applied during capture and recapture, provides accurate timing of data, but even shed hair or hair caught in hair traps may still grant precious indication of the individual's hormonal profile. Here we relate on our attempt to validate this method by comparing cortisol', testosterone' and progesterone's levels determined in the hair and in faeces of the domestic cat (_Felis silvestris catus_) considered as a model species. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |