title: Faecal corticosteroid levels as an indicator of well-being in the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii.
abstract: Faecal corticosteroid levels were measured in five female tammar wallabies, Macropus eugenii, at Macquarie University, NSW, Australia, to assess their reliability as indicators of well-being in this species. Animals were challenged with a change in conditions over the course of approximately 1 week, comprising movement from group yards to isolation in individual yards, in order to impose a disturbance to homeostasis ("stress"). Faecal samples were collected in 24-h intervals during the study period and analysed for corticosteroid concentration. The use of enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of corticosteroids in marsupial faecal pellets was validated. We observed a significant increase in faecal corticosteroids upon isolation and movement. Faecal corticosteroids remained above initial levels in all five animals throughout the study period, suggesting that faecal corticosteroid concentrations may be a useful indicator of a change in animal well-being. Faecal corticosteroid levels did not correlate with serum cortisol levels, implying that the use of noninvasive methods in a representative marsupial, the tammar wallaby, has the potential to provide information that is not readily apparent using blood-based protocols. Faecal corticosteroid analysis therefore has the potential for application in monitoring the well-being of captive and managed marsupial populations, as part of an integrated system of measures of animal health and well-being.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental and Life Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Deane
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007614:Macropodidae / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones