title: A novel method for assessing chronic cortisol concentrations in dogs using the nail as a source.
abstract: Cortisol, a glucocorticoid secreted in response to stress, is used to assess adrenal function and mental health in clinical settings. Current methods assess cortisol sources that reflect short-term secretion that can vary with current stress state. Here, we present a novel method for the extraction and quantification of cortisol from the dog nail using solid phase extraction coupled to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Validation experiments demonstrated accuracy (r = 0.836, P < 0.001) precision (15.1% coefficients of variation), and repeatability (14.4% coefficients of variation) with this method. Furthermore, nail cortisol concentrations were positively correlated to an established hair cortisol method (r = 0.736, P < 0.001). Nail cortisol concentrations did not differ with dog sex, breed, age, or weights; however, sample size limitations may preclude statistical significance. Nail cortisol may provide information on cortisol secretion integrated over the time corresponding to nail growth and may be useful as a tool for diagnosing stress and adrenal disorders in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL 37289, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL 37289, USA. Electronic address: hfokidis@rollins.edu.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Fokidis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000737:chemistry*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Canine; Cortisol; HPA axis; Keratin; Steroid; Stress