title: Application of the wireless electroencephalogram to measure stress in White Pekin ducks.
abstract: Stress in poultry can produce many undesirable effects on bird health and production performance. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a potential measure to assess stress through analysis of brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). In two experiments, White Pekin ducks were implanted with EEG transmitters and treated with potential stressors in a chamber or in their pens. Electrocardiograms and blood corticosterone levels were collected as standard measures of stress. EEG analysis showed an increase in the relative delta frequency and a decrease in the relative alpha frequency during the treatment period for shock (P < 0.05). EEG analysis of the second experiment showed no differences between time periods for all frequencies for all treatments. Based on these results, EEG is currently not a viable technique for the measurement of acute stress in commercial poultry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pritchett
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware. Electronic address: ebenson@udel.edu.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Alphin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004372:Ducks / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D059015:Wireless Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Corticosterone; Duck; Electroencephalogram (EEG); Stress; Welfare