title: Response of salivary haptoglobin and serum amyloid A to social isolation and short road transport stress in pigs.
abstract: The possible use of serum amyloid A and haptoglobin (Hp) determination in saliva as stress markers in swine was investigated in this study. Firstly, a model of social isolation was followed. Significantly higher serum amyloid A concentrations were obtained in isolated animals (n=10) compared to grouped animals (n=10; P=0.036), in agreement with cortisol levels (P=0.015), while haptoglobin levels did not significantly change. Secondly, animals were subjected to short road transport. Cortisol and serum amyloid A levels significantly increased following road transport. Serum amyloid A levels were significantly high on arrival at the slaughterhouse and maximal at 30 and 60 min lairage (P<0.0001). Cortisol levels were only significantly elevated on arrival at the slaughterhouse (P<0.0001). These results indicate that salivary serum amyloid A (and not haptoglobin) determination is a potential biomarker for the assessment of complex stress in pigs, and that it has a more prolonged response than cortisol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia 30100, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Escribano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cerón
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D012934:Social Isolation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D006242:Haptoglobins; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D006854:Hydrocortisone