Faecal cortisol metabolites as an indicator of adrenocortical activity in farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes).

摘要: Abstract Measuring glucocorticoid metabolites in faeces has proven a useful, non-invasive method to monitor adrenocortical activity several farm and wild species. Unlike plasma cortisol, whose sampling requires restraint blood draws, faecal cortisol (FCM) may be particularly suitable for farmed silver foxes as these animals are sensitive handling by humans. Prior using FCM potential indicator of stress foxes, however, proper physiological and/or biological validation is required. Here, we determined concentrations 30 (10 adult vixens, 10 juvenile females males) every alternate hour 24 h after 1) an increase induced injection with synthetic ACTH (hereafter ACTH), 2) 2 min period restraint. Baseline values, recorded fourth before the treatments, served controls. values increased significantly following (P = 0.0001) (P