Exploring immunoglobulin A as a stress biomarker in lions (Panthera leo) : Validation of an immunoassay for its measurement in feces
Serres Corral, Paula (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
Olvera-Maneu, Sergi (University of Nicosia)
Almagro-Delgado, Vanessa (Zoo de Barcelona)
Carbonell, Loles (Bioparc València)
Borragán, Santiago (Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno)
Martínez-Nevado, Eva (Zoo Aquarium de Madrid)
Quevedo, Miguel Ángel (Zoobotánico Jerez)
Fernández-Bellon, Hugo (Zoo de Barcelona)
Carbajal, Annaïs (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
López Béjar, Manel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)

Data:	2025
Descripció:	4 pàg.
Resum:	Immunoglobulin A (IgA) has been investigated as a stress biomarker with the potential to complement glucocorticoid measurements in welfare assessments. This study aimed to develop the methodology and validate an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for quantifying IgA in feces (FIgA) of lions (Panthera leo), investigate excretion patterns of FIgA under baseline conditions in captive lions, and explore its relationship with fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM). Feces were collected from 11 lions housed in stable social groups at four Spanish zoos over a period of two to six weeks. FIgA was reliably quantified using a commercial EIA, with concentrations ranging from 0. 28 to 794. 17 μg IgA/g feces, showing substantial intra- and inter-individual variability. Females had significantly higher FIgA concentrations than males (113. 10 vs 54. 96 μg IgA/g feces; p < 0. 01). Additionally, FIgA concentrations varied across zoos (p < 0. 001). Positive correlations were found between FIgA and FGM for all samples combined (rho = 0. 43, p < 0. 001) and across individual means (rho = 0. 70, p < 0. 05), but not consistently when examining each lion separately. This study demonstrates for the first time that IgA can be reliably quantified in lion feces, paving the way for its application in welfare studies.
Nota:	Altres ajuts: Wild Animal Initiative (grant number WAI-C-2023-00018); Barcelona Zoo Foundation (grant number ZOO2020_01).
Drets:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Llengua:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Matèria:	Stress ; Fecal immunoglobulin A ; Animal welfare ; Non-invasive ; Lion ; Glucocorticoids
Publicat a:	Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology, Vol. 299 (January 2025) , art. 111762, ISSN 1531-4332

DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111762
PMID: 39395752

4 p, 1.7 MB

El registre apareix a les col·leccions:
Articles > Articles de recerca
Articles > Articles publicats