Hostname: page-component-599cfd5f84-96rnj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-07T06:00:34.008Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Adrenocorticotrophin-Induced Stress Response in Captive Vicunas (Vicugna Vicugna) in the Andes of Chile

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

C Bonacic ,
D W Macdonald  and
G Villouta
C Bonacic*
Affiliation:
Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomia e Ingenieria Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Correo 22, Santiago, Chile
D W Macdonald
Affiliation:
Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
G Villouta
Affiliation:
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Santa Rosa 11735, Santiago, Chile
*
‡ Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The vicuna is mainly used in two ways: wild captured, shorn and returned to the wild; or wild captured and maintained in captivity as part of a programme of sustainable use in the Andes of South America. Farming of wild vicunas has hitherto involved no assessment of their welfare. In this study we measured a set of basic blood parameters in order to characterise baseline values in captivity, and we then characterised adrenal cortical responsiveness using an ACTH challenge. The ACTH challenge is widely used for assessing neuroendocrine responses to stress and is now increasingly being applied to studies of wild animals’ welfare. Five male vicunas were injected with exogenous ACTH and their responses compared with those of a control group injected with placebo. Behavioural and haematological changes were monitored. Injection of ACTH produced a 4.5-fold increase in cortisol concentration within 1 h. Total white blood cell count almost doubled in less than 5 h. The neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio also changed, with a decrease in lymphocytes and an increase in neutrophils, suggesting that the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was affected by the ACTH challenge. Packed cell volume increased from 40% to 44%. Observations of individual vicunas during sampling revealed no discernible behavioural differences between treated and control animals; however, animals that had higher initial baseline cortisol concentration made more attempts to escape, and vocalised more during handling, regardless of whether they were treated with ACTH or placebo. The results reveal the different blood parameter levels associated with stress in different species and highlight the hazard of interpreting stress levels in one species on the basis of measures calibrated in another. We provide calibrated reference values for future studies of stress in vicunas.

Keywords

animal welfareCamelidChileguanacostressvicuna
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , August 2003 , pp. 369 - 385
Copyright
© 2003 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, D, Grubb, T and Silveira, F 1999 The effect of short duration transportation on serum Cortisol in alpacas (Lama pacos). The Veterinary Journal 157: 189–191CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnett, J L and Hemsworth, P H 1990 The validity of physiological and behavioral measures of animal- welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 25: 177–187CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bateson, P and Wise, D 1998 Welfare of hunted red deer. Veterinary Record 142: 95Google ScholarPubMed
Baunmann, I, Bligh, J and Vallenas, P 1975 Temperature regulation in the alpaca (Lama pacos). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 50C(C): 105–109Google Scholar
Becker, J B, Breedlove, S M and Crews, D 1992 Behavioral Endocrinology. MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAGoogle Scholar
Bonacic, C 2000 Sustainable use of the vicuna (Vicugna vicugna): a physiological and ecological assessment. DPhil Thesis, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Bonacic, C and Gimpel, J 1995 Sustainable use of South American wild camelids: theory and practice. Newsletter of the European Fine Fibre Network 5: 23–26Google Scholar
Bonacic, C and Gimpel, J 2000 Current advances on research and management of the vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) in Chile. Ciencia e Investigacion Agraria 27(Enero-Abril): 39–50CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonacic, C and Macdonald, D 2003 The physiological impact of wool-harvesting procedures in vicunas (Vicugna vicugna). Animal Welfare 12: 387–402Google Scholar
Bonacic, C, Macdonald, D, Galaz, J and Sibly, R 2002 Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) density-dependence and sustainable use: the recovery of a protected population in Chile, 1975-1992. Oryx 36(2): 118–125CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradshaw, E and Bateson, P 2000 Welfare implications of culling red deer (Cervus elaphus). Animal Welfare 9: 3–24Google Scholar
Brandeys, A 1988 Radioimmunoassay test for plasmatic cortisol in South American Camelids. Unpublished internal report, Endocrinology Laboratory, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de ChileGoogle Scholar
Bubenik, G A and Bartos, L 1993 Cortisol levels in red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) after an acute ACTH administration. Canadian Journal of Zoology 71: 2258–2261CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bubenik, G A, Brown, R D and Schams, D 1991 Antler cycle and endocrine parameters in male axis deer (Axis axis): seasonal levels of LH, FSH, testosterone, and prolactin and results of GnRH and ACTH challenge tests. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology (Part A — Physiology) 99: 645–650CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bubenik, G A, Brown, R D, Schams, D and Bartos, L 1999 The effect of ACTH on the GnRH-induced release of LH and testosterone in male white-tailed deer. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology (Part C — Pharmacology, Toxicology & Endocrinology) 122: 173–179CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bubenik, G A, Bubenik, A B, Schams, D and Leatherland, J F 1983 Circadian and circannual rhythms of LH, FSH, testosterone (T), prolactin, cortisol, T3 and T4 in plasma of mature, male white-tailed deer. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology (Part A — Physiology) 76: 37–45CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bubenik, G A and Reyestoledo, E 1994 Plasma levels of cortisol, testosterone and growth-hormone in Pudu (Pudu puda molina) after ACTH administration. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology (Part A — Physiology) 107: 523–527CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bustos, P 1998 Estudio de algunas variables fisiológicas del guanaco (Lama guanicoe guanicoe) durante la lactancia artificial en cautiverio. Veterinary Medical Thesis, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, USA [Title translation: The study of some physiological parameters of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe guanicoe) during artificial lactation during captivity]: The study of some physiological parameters of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe guanicoe) during artificial lactation during captivity]Google Scholar
Coles, E H 1980 Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Saunders: Philadelphia, USAGoogle Scholar
Cuchacovich, J 1997 Scientific capture of vicunas. Permit number 3233. Resolucion de captura. Santiago, Ministry of Agriculture: 2Google Scholar
Dawkins, M S and Gosling, M 1992 Ethics on Research on Animal Behaviour. Academic Press: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Eckert, R and Randall, D J 1983 Animal Physiology: Mechanisms and Adaptations. W H Freeman: San Francisco, USAGoogle Scholar
Eltringham, S K 1988 Wildlife Resources and Economic Development. International Book Distributors: Dehra Dun, IndiaGoogle Scholar
Ferre, I, Goddard, P J, Macdonald, A J, Littlewood, C A and Duff, E I 1998 Effect of method of blood sample collection on adrenal activity in farmed red deer and sheep following administration of ACTH. Animal Science 67: 157–164CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fowler, M 1998 Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids, 2nd Edn. Iowa State University Press: Ames, Iowa, USAGoogle Scholar
Fowler, M E 1989 Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids. Iowa State University Press: Ames, Iowa, USAGoogle Scholar
Fowler, M E and Zinkl, J G 1989 Reference ranges for hematologic and serum biochemical values in llamas (Lama glama). American Journal of Veterinary Research 50: 2049–2053Google ScholarPubMed
Galaz, J 1998 El manejo de la vicuna en Chile. In: Valverde V (ed) La Conservacion de la Fauna Nativa Chilena: Logros y Perspectivas p 178. Corporacion Nacional Forestal: Santiago, Chile [Title translation: The management of vicunas in Chile]Google Scholar
Garry, F 1989 Clinical pathology of llamas. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Section 5(1): 55–70Google ScholarPubMed
Goddard, P J, Gaskin, G J and Macdonald, A J 1998 Automatic blood sampling equipment for use in studies of animal physiology. Animal Science 66: 769–775CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goddard, P J, Gordon, I J and Hamilton, W J 1996 The effect of post-capture management strategy on the welfare and productivity of wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) hinds introduced to farming systems. Animal Science 63: 315–327CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goddard, P J, Rhind, S M, Hamilton, W J, Macdonald, A J, Fawcett, A R, Soanes, C and McMillen, S R 1994 The adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test — its potential use and limitations in red deer (Cervus elaphus). Canadian Journal of Zoology 72: 1826–1830CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gurevitch, J and Scheiner, S M 1993 Design and Analysis of Ecological Experiments. Chapman & Hall: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Hall, P 1978 The World Health Organisation's Programme for the standardization and quality control of radioimmunoassay of hormones in reproductive physiology. Hormone Research 9: 440–449CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harlow, H J, Thorne, E T, Williams, E S, Belden, E L and Gern, W A 1987 Adrenal responsiveness in domestic sheep (Ovis aries) to acute and chronic stressors as predicted by remote monitoring of cardiac frequency. Canadian Journal of Zoology 65: 2021–2027CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hofer, H and East, M 1998 Stress and behavior. In: Møller, A P, Milinski, M and Slater, P J B (eds) Advances in the Study of Behavior, Vol 27 pp 405–497. Academic Press: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Ingram, J R, Matthews, L R, Carragher, J F and Schaare, P R 1997 Plasma cortisol responses to remote adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) infusion in free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus). Domestic Animal Endocrinology 14: 63–71CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, L 1994 Update on lama medicine. The Veterinary Clinics of North America 10: 196–199Google Scholar
Jurgens, K 1993 High altitude adaptation of oxygen transport properties of blood and circulation in South American Camelids. In: Gerken, M and Renieri, C (eds) Proceedings of the European Symposium on South American Camelids pp 219–222. Universita’ degli studi de Camerino: Camerino, ItalyGoogle Scholar
Jurgens, K D, Pietschmann, M, Yamaguchi, K and Kleinschmidt, T 1988 Oxygen binding-properties, capillary densities and heart weights in high-altitude Camelids. Journal of Comparative Physiology (Part B — Biochemical Systemic and Environmental Physiology) 158: 469–477CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kaneko, J J, Harvey, J W and Bruss, M 1997 Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals. Academic Press: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Koford, C 1957 The vicuna and the puna. Ecological Monographs 27: 152–219CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kraabel, B J and Miller, M W 1997 Effect of simulated stress on susceptibility of bighorn sheep neutrophils to Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 33: 558–566CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
LeRoy, A 1999 Nivel de cortisol maximo en guanacos (Lama guanicoe) para su utilizacion como indicador de estres. Undergraduate Thesis, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile [Title translation: Maximum cortisol levels in guanacos (Lama guanicoe) as stress indicators]: Maximum cortisol levels in guanacos (Lama guanicoe) as stress indicators]Google Scholar
Ludders, J W, Langenberg, J A, Czekala, N M, Erb, H N and McCormick, H 1998 Serum corticosterone response to adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation in Florida sandhill cranes. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 34: 715–721CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moreira, J and Macdonald, D 1996 Capybara use and conservation in South America. In: Taylor V and Dunstone N (eds) The Exploitation of Mammal Populations p 415. Chapman & Hall: London, UKCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nelson, R J 1995 An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology. Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, Massachusetts, USAGoogle Scholar
Norris, D O 1997 Vertebrate Endocrinology. Academic Press: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Norušis M J and SPSS Inc 1998 SPSS 8.0 Guide to Data Analysis. Prentice Hall: New Jersey, USAGoogle Scholar
Oryx 1999 Sustainable use of vicuna. Oryx 33: 208Google Scholar
Prescott-Allen, R and Prescott-Allen, C 1996 Assessing the impacts of uses of mammals: the good, the bad and the neutral. In: Taylor, V and Dunstone, N (eds) The Exploitation of Mammal Populations pp 45–61. Chapman & Hall: London, UKCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rebuffi, G 1993 Captura de vicunas en semicautiverio. In: Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on South American Camelids pp 73–84. La Paz, Bolivia [Title translation: Vicuna captures in semi-captivity]Google Scholar
Robinson, W L and Bolen, E G 1989 Wildlife Ecology and Management. Macmillan: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Schalm, O W and Jain, N C 1986 Schalm's Veterinary Hematology. Lea & Febiger: Philadelphia, USAGoogle Scholar
Schmidt-Nielsen, K 1990 Animal Physiology: Adaptation and Environment. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UKGoogle Scholar
Selye, H and Ogilvie, W H 1957 The Stress of Life. Longmans Green: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Smith, B, Timm, K and Long, P 1999 Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care. Clay Press: Jackson, USAGoogle Scholar
Smith, J H and Bubenik, G A 1990 Plasma-concentrations of glucocorticoids in white-tailed deer — the effect of acute ACTH and dexamethasone administration. Canadian Journal of Zoology 68: 2123–2129CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SPSS 1997 SPSS Advanced Statistics 7.5. SPSS: Chicago, USAGoogle Scholar
Taylor, V and Dunstone, N 1996 The Exploitation of Mammal Populations. Chapman & Hall: London, UKCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vanmourik, S and Stelmasiak, T 1984 Adrenal-response to ACTH stimulation in rusa deer (Cervus rusa timorensis). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology (Part A — Physiology) 79: 581–584CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wernery, U, Fowler, M and Wernery, R 1999 A Color Atlas of Camelid Hematology. Book News Inc: Portland, USAGoogle Scholar
Wheeler, J and Hoces, D 1997 Community participation, sustainable use, and vicuna conservation in Peru. Mountain Research and Development 17(3): 283–287CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Winer, B and Michels, K 1991 Statistical Principles in Experimental Design. McGraw-Hill: New York, USAGoogle Scholar
Wolfensohn, S and Lloyd, M 1994 Handbook of Laboratory Animal Management and Welfare. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Zekan, S and Ezcurra, E 1998 Standardization and Quality Control of Laboratory Procedures. World Health Organization: London, UKGoogle Scholar