| |
Flauger, B., Krueger, K., Gerhards, H., & Möstl, E. (2010). Simplified method to measure glucocorticoid metabolites in faeces of horses. Vet Res Comm, in press.
Abstract: Glucocorticoids or their metabolites can be measured in several body fluids or excreta,
including plasma, saliva, urine and faeces. In recent years the measurement of glucocorticoid
metabolites (GCMs) in faeces has gained increasing attention, because of its suitability for wild
populations. In horses, however, the group-specific enzyme immunoassay described so far has a
limited practicability due to its complex extraction procedure. Therefore, we tested the applicability of
other enzyme immunoassays for glucocorticoid metabolites. The present study clearly proved that an
enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for 11-oxoetiocholanolone using 11-oxoetiocholanolone-17-CMO: BSA
(3α,11-oxo-A EIA) as antigen showed high amounts of immunoreactive substances. Therefore it was
possible to use just a small amount of the supernatant of a methanolic suspension of faeces. The results
correlated well with the already described method for measuring GCMs in horse faeces, i.e. analysing
the samples with an EIA after a two step clean up procedure of the samples (Merl et al. 2000). In
addition, the 3α,11-oxo-A EIA has the advantage of providing a bigger difference between baseline
values and peak values after ACTH stimulation. The new assay increased the accuracy of the test,
lowered the expenses per sample, and storing samples at room temperature after collection was less
critical than with other assays investigated in our study. This is a big advantage both in the field of
wildlife management of equids and in the field of equestrian sports and it shows the importance of
choosing an assay which is in good accordance with the metabolites excreted in a given species.
Keywords: ACTH challenge; enzyme immunoassay; stress behaviour; cortisol
|
|
Fucikova, E., Drent, P. J., Smits, N., & van Oers, K. (2009). Handling Stress as a Measurement of Personality in Great Tit Nestlings (Parus major). Ethology, 115(4), 366–374.
Abstract: nterest in personality is growing in a wide range of disciplines, but only in a few systems it is possible to assess the survival value of personality. Field studies looking at the relationship between personality and survival value early in life are greatly hampered by the fact that personality can at present only be assessed after individuals become independent from their parents. In passerines, for example, this is often after a period of intensive selection for the survival on fledglings. The main aim of this study is therefore to develop a method to measure personality before this period of selection. For this purpose, we developed the handling stress (HS) test. We measured HS in 14-d-old great tit nestlings by counting the number of breast movements (breath rate) in four subsequent 15-s bouts for 1 min; before and after they were socially isolated from their siblings for 15 min. To calculate the repeatability of HS, we repeated the test 6 mo later. To assess the relationship between HS and exploratory behaviour, we correlated the outcome of both tests. We ran tests both on birds of lines selected for extreme personality and on wild birds from a natural population. We found that birds selected for fast exploration reacted more to HS compared with birds selected for slow exploration and that HS was repeatable in different life phases. We confirmed this by finding an increase in the HS with increasing exploratory scores in wild birds. These results show that we can use the HS test as a measurement of personality, making it a potential tool for studying the relationship between personality and survival value early in life.
|
|
|
Brooks, S. M. (2006). Animal-assisted psychotherapy and equine-fasciliated psychotherapy. In N. B. Webb (Ed.), Psychotherapy and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy, (pp. 196–217). New York: Guilford Press.
|
|
|
Schneider, K. (1992). Emotionen. In Spada Hans (Ed.), Allgemeine Psychologie. Bern: Verlag Hans Huber.
|
|
Veevers, J. E. (1985). The Social Meaning of Pets -- Alternative Roles for Companion Animals. Marriage Fam Rev, 8(3&4), 11–30.
Abstract: When companion animal interact closely with people, the roles they play may be categorized in terms of three major functions. The projective function involves the extent to which pets may serve as a symbolic extension of the self. The sociability function involves the role of pets in facilitating human-to-human interaction. The surrogate function involves the extent to which interaction with pets may supplement human-to-human interaction, or serve as a substitute for it. A person publicly identified with a companion animal makes a symbolic statement of their personality and self-image. Whether or not this process is intentional, the presence of a pet and the way it is treated become factors which are taken into account in the assessment of the social self. Pets facilitate interaction by being social lubricants. They provide a neutral subject of conversation, and perform a variety of functions as social catalysts. Since interaction with companion animals can approximate human companionship, the presence of pets may serve to supplement the benefits usually derived from the roles of friend, parent, spouse, or child. Alternatively, pets may serve as surrogate antagonists. In the extreme, interaction with companion animals may not only supplement human companionship, but may actually replace it. These three major functions are discussed with examples. Implications are noted for future research on companion animals.
|
|
|
