Authors : C.I. Alejandro , C.R. Nava , C.G.R. Lang and D.M.B. Hernandez-J
Abstract: In this study the effect of the atmosphere was measured on the concentrations of fecal cortisol in 4 samples of Mexican Wolf and 4 samples of Mountain Cat, exposed to the environment during 4 weeks. Weekly the concentrations of fecal cortisol were measured of each one of the samples. In the samples of Mexican Wolf fickle variations were observed in the concentrations of fecal cortisol, they already stayed fluctuating between the increase and the decrease. However, according to the statistical analysis, these variations were not significant along the study (p>0.05). In the samples of a single Mountain Cat a sample (of 4) it showed a constant decrease from the initial until the final cortisol concentration. The other 3 samples stayed fluctuating between the increase and the decrease. In spite of this, the variations in the concentrations of fecal cortisol were not significant for the first week (p = 0.9316), after this week the variations were significant (p<0.05). In both species, the increases in the concentrations of fecal cortisol were influenced by the days of more precipitation and of lower temperatures. On the other hand, the decreases had influence for the highest temperatures and the little or no precipitation. This is due to that the precipitation provides favorable conditions for the bacterial activity, increasing the concentration of free cortisol, in the samples; on the other hand, the heat produces that the proteins of the cell clot, causing the bacterial death, that which diminishes the concentration of free cortisol. According to the statistical analysis differences were observed between the average of the concentration of fecal cortisol of the 2 species (in the Mountain Cat the concentrations of fecal cortisol were higher than in the Mexican Wolf), between the individual samples for species and between the species through the meteorological conditions, this of it owes to the differences that exist between the species, which are: The intestinal activity, the intestinal microbiota, the diet type, th metabolism of steroids, the percentage of cortisol excretion in the samples and the metabolism of bacteria after the excretion in the samples. For future studies on the evaluation of fecal cortisol as much in Mountain Cat as in Mexican Wolf is recommended to use fresh samples of not more than 3 days, since its possible to obtain sub values or over values depending on the species and of the climatic conditions of the moment.
C.I. Alejandro , C.R. Nava , C.G.R. Lang and D.M.B. Hernandez-J , 2008. Effect of Environmental and Meteorological Conditions on Levels of Fecal Cortisol in Two Captive Species of Carnivorous. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 7: 759-764.