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Hansen E, Sun J, Helander B, Bustnes JO, Eulaers I, Jaspers VLB, Covaci A, Eens M, Bourgeon S. A retrospective investigation of feather corticosterone in a highly contaminated white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) population. Environ Res 2023; 228:115923. [PMID: 37072083 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as organochlorines (OCs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), is associated with adverse health effects in wildlife. Many POPs have been banned and consequently their environmental concentrations have declined. To assess both temporal trends of POPs and their detrimental impacts, raptors are extensively used as biomonitors due to their high food web position and high contaminant levels. White-tailed eagles (WTEs; Haliaeetus albicilla) in the Baltic ecosystem represent a sentinel species of environmental pollution, as they have suffered population declines due to reproductive failure caused by severe exposure to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) during the 1960s through 1980s. However, there is a lack of long-term studies that cover a wide range of environmental contaminants and their effects at the individual level. In this study, we used 135 pooled samples of shed body feathers collected in 1968-2012 from breeding WTE pairs in Sweden. Feathers constitute a temporal archive for substances incorporated into the feather during growth, including corticosterone, which is the primary avian glucocorticoid and a stress-associated hormone. Here, we analysed the WTE feather pools to investigate annual variations in feather corticosterone (fCORT), POPs (OCs and PBDEs), and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (SIs; dietary proxies). We examined whether the expected fluctuations in POPs affected fCORT (8-94 pg. mm-1) in the WTE pairs. Despite clear temporal declining trends in POP concentrations (p < 0.01), we found no significant associations between fCORT and POPs or SIs (p > 0.05 in all cases). Our results do not support fCORT as a relevant biomarker of contaminant-mediated effects in WTEs despite studying a highly contaminated population. However, although not detecting a relationship between fCORT, POP contamination and diet, fCORT represents a non-destructive and retrospective assessment of long-term stress physiology in wild raptors otherwise not readily available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Hansen
- UiT - the Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Hansine Hansens Veg 18, NO-9019, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Jiachen Sun
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, CN-266003, Shandong, China
| | - Björn Helander
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Box 50007, SE-10405, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, NO-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Fram Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, NO-9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Veerle L B Jaspers
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural and Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Sophie Bourgeon
- UiT - the Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Hansine Hansens Veg 18, NO-9019, Tromsø, Norway
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Iyasere OS, Durosaro SO, Oyeniran VJ, Daramola JO. Is an increase of glucocorticoid concentrations related to the degree of arousal or valence experienced by an animal to a stimulus? Domest Anim Endocrinol 2022; 81:106752. [PMID: 35868218 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2022.106752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Animal welfare is the quality of life as perceived by the animal itself. It is also the state of an animal in its attempt to cope with its environment. Animal welfare has high ethics and economic importance. Thus the need to develop parameters for assessing animal welfare. An acute increase in glucocorticoid (GC) concentration is necessary for adaptation to a stressful situation. Glucocorticoids also play a significant role in metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Glucocorticoid enhances effective learning through the hippocampus and other normal body functions. That is why we remember events (either positive or negative) associated with strong emotions. Long-term secretion of GCs has catabolic effects. Thus, affecting animal health. Measuring GC is one of the ways of assessing animal welfare. But, high GC concentration does not only indicate pain or suffering. We report that stress and emotion trigger similar physiological responses. So, measuring GC levels cannot differentiate between positive and negative states. We conclude that GC shows circadian rhythms and episodic spikes in some species. Values from a single sample point are not reliable to make conclusions about a condition. Training animals for blood collection may reduce stress. Thus not causing bias in the GC concentration measured.
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Affiliation(s)
- O S Iyasere
- Department of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria.
| | - S O Durosaro
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - V J Oyeniran
- Department of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - J O Daramola
- Department of Animal Physiology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria
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Son J, Lee WD, Kim HJ, Kang BS, Kang HK. Effect of Providing Environmental Enrichment into Aviary House on the Welfare of Laying Hens. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12. [PMID: 35565591 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the effects of providing environmental enrichment materials—pumice stone and alfalfa hay—to laying hens in the aviary system. A total of 2196 40-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly allotted to three treatment groups: (1) no enrichment (control; CON), (2) enrichment with pumice stone (PS), and (3) enrichment with alfalfa hay (HAY). Each treatment comprised four replicates of 183 hens each, and four of the same materials were provided per replicate. The experiment lasted for 26 weeks. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. As a result, the PS and HAY groups demonstrated increased egg production (p < 0.001). The HAY group showed a reduced rate of mislaid eggs (p < 0.01) and produced low egg weight and pale-yellow yolk (p < 0.05). Both enrichment materials decreased blood creatinine (CRE) or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the blood and resulted in a significantly lower corticosterone (CORT) level (p < 0.05). However, the feather condition scores for the laying hens were similar across all treatments (p > 0.05). In summary, although pumice stone and alfalfa hay are effective in alleviating stress and improving the production of laying hens, additional environmental improvement studies are needed to contribute to reducing pecking behaviors in poultry farming.
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Lee C, Kim JH, Kil DY. Comparison of stress biomarkers in laying hens raised under a long-term multiple stress condition. Poult Sci 2022; 101:101868. [PMID: 35477135 PMCID: PMC9058573 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of the current experiment was to compare various stress biomarkers including the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (H:L ratio) in blood and the corticosterone (CORT) concentrations in feathers, claws, and egg yolk and to find the potential stress biomarkers in laying hens exposed to a long-term multiple stress condition. A total of 24 Hy-Line Brown laying hens at 47 wk of age were allotted to 2 distinct conditions including normal condition (NC) and multiple stress condition (MC) with 8 replicated cages. In NC treatment, 8 hens were raised individually in the cage (0.16 m2/hen) under the temperature of 21 ± 0.6°C. In MC treatment, 16 hens were raised with 2 hens per cage to decrease space allowance (0.08 m2/hen) and the temperature was maintained at 31 ± 1.6°C. The experiment lasted for 8 wk. The common diets and water were fed on an ad libitum basis during the experiment. Results indicated no interactions between stress conditions and duration of stress exposure for all measurements. Hens in MC treatment had a greater (P < 0.01) blood H:L ratio than those in NC treatment. The greater (P < 0.05) H:L ratio for MC treatment was observed at all weeks. Hens in MC treatment had greater (P < 0.05) feather CORT concentrations than those in NC treatment. Feather CORT concentrations were increased (P < 0.05) with duration of the experiment. However, stress conditions did not influence claw CORT concentrations. A tendency (P = 0.081) was observed for greater yolk CORT concentrations in MC treatment than in NC treatment. In conclusion, the H:L ratio in blood and CORT concentrations in feathers and egg yolks are considered potential stress biomarkers in laying hens exposed to stress conditions, although each measurement has its respective limitations. However, CORT concentrations in the claw appear to be insensitive to a long-term stress exposure.
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Bartels T, Berk J, Cramer K, Kanitz E, Otten W. Research Note: It's not just stress-fecal contamination of plumage may affect feather corticosterone concentration. Poult Sci 2021; 100:101494. [PMID: 34695634 PMCID: PMC8554247 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The feather corticosterone concentration (fCORT) is increasingly used to assess long-term stress in birds as this indicator provides the potential to retrospectively evaluate the adrenocortical activity of a bird during the growth period of a feather over several weeks in one sample. However, there is still a lack of knowledge concerning external factors which can potentially influence fCORT in birds. The aim of the present study was to determine whether fCORT in laying hens is affected by previous fecal contamination of the plumage. Fully grown primaries 5 (P5s) of laying hens (n = 40) were used for the study. To test the effects of fecal contamination on fCORT, freshly defecated droppings from laying hens were collected and mixed manually. In order to simulate practical and at the same time standardized contamination, the upper surface of the previously determined middle third of the right P5 of each hen then was evenly coated with the paste prepared from fresh feces. The treated feathers were stored for 24 h protected from light at room temperature under a film cover to prevent evaporation. Thereafter, the applied layer of excreta was removed manually. Contralateral P5s of the same individuals were stored under identical conditions and served as controls. Both treatment and control feathers were washed in an aqueous soap solution, rinsed several times in pure water and air-dried subsequently. After pulverization and methanolic extraction, fCORT was analyzed by ELISA. The mean fCORT of treatment P5s (reference ‘feather length’: 12.88 ± 3.16 pg/mm; reference ‘feather weight’: 7.81 pg/mg ± 1.86 pg/mg) were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those of control P5s (reference ‘feather length’: 9.76 ± 2.42 pg/mm; reference ‘feather weight’: 5.93 ± 1.44 pg/mg). Our results show that previous contamination with excreta can increase fCORT, which was detectable even after a washing procedure prior to analysis. In conclusion, fecal contamination of feathers is a significant influencing factor that has to be considered when applying fCORT measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bartels
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Celle, Germany.
| | - J Berk
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Celle, Germany
| | - K Cramer
- University of Leipzig, Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, Leipzig, Germany
| | - E Kanitz
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - W Otten
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Dummerstorf, Germany
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Leishman EM, van Staaveren N, Mohr J, Wood BJ, Freeman NE, Newman AEM, Harlander-Matauschek A, Baes CF. The Effect of Egg Laying on Feather and Plasma Corticosterone Concentrations in Turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo) Hens. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1892. [PMID: 34202059 DOI: 10.3390/ani11071892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary It is not known if an energetically demanding process, such as egg laying, can affect corticosterone measured in turkey feathers and blood plasma, or if there are differences between feather types and genetic lines. The objective of this study was to compare hormone levels from feathers and plasma taken before and during egg laying. We found that the corticosterone in the feathers were higher during egg laying, but only for one genetic line. This genetic line produces more eggs and, so, the elevated corticosterone may reflect the higher metabolic investment in producing eggs. Increases in corticosterone levels were found in different feather types; however, the overall hormone level differed between feather types. Unlike the feathers, we found a decrease in plasma hormone measures between the two periods which might reflect the influence of gonadal development or suppression of acute hormone production during lay. From this study, we conclude that feathers can be used to detect increases in corticosterone during periods of high energy demand, but the genetic line needs to be considered, and the results may not correspond with plasma measures. This study also reinforces the requirement for consistent feather sampling when using corticosterone levels in feathers as non-invasive biomarkers. Abstract Phenological differences in energy demand (i.e., reproductive status) might influence the measurement of corticosterone. The objective of this study was to compare corticosterone concentrations in feathers (FCORT) and plasma (PCORT) for turkey hens before and during egg laying. Secondary feathers 1 and 3, and a plasma sample were collected from 50 hens at 30 weeks (before egg laying) from two purebred lines. The hens were reexamined during lay (45 weeks) to collect regrown feathers and plasma samples. Corticosterone concentrations were measured using an ELISA. Linear mixed models were used to assess the effect of genetic line (A vs. B) and period (pre-lay vs. lay) on FCORT and PCORT levels. An increase in FCORT during lay was detected for line B (p < 0.0001), but not line A (p = 0.3076). An increase in FCORT during lay was detectable in both feather types, but there was a difference between secondary 1 and 3 in FCORT concentration within each line studied. Conversely, PCORT decreased between the pre-lay and lay periods for both lines, although the decrease was more substantial for line A (p < 0.0001). Differences in metabolic investment in egg production between the two genetic lines may explain the different FCORT response during lay. The results from this study provide insight into how periods of high energy demand may influence corticosterone which should be considered when interpreting results.
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