Circulating β-endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone and cortisol levels of stallions before and after short road transport: stress effect of different distances

Fazio, Esterina; Medica, Pietro; Aronica, V.; Grasso, Loredana; Ferlazzo, Adriana

doi:10.1186/1751-0147-50-6

Cited by 107 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Transport induced increased plasma and salivary cortisol concentrations in the studied cold-blood horses and was similar to that described by other researchers in warm-blood horses (Stull and Rodiek 2000, Fazio et al 2008a, Schmidt et al 2010a. The means of plasma cortisol concentrations were characterised by high SD values.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The studied horses were transported under these conditions one hour or 12 hours, without significant differences in cortisol values measured immediately after transport. It should be mentioned that in other studies, the distance of transport also did not influence plasma or saliva Salivary and plasma cortisol in transported cold-blood horses W. Kędzierski et al Pferdeheilkunde 32 (2016) 493 cortisol concentrations determined just after the end of transport (Fazio et al 2008a, Schmidt et al 2010a. In fact, in a number of studies there was a significant increase in salivary or plasma cortisol concentrations only during the early stage of transport (Stull andRodiek 2000, Schmidt et al 2010a,b,c).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

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Effects of transportation procedures on salivary and plasma cortisol concentrations in cold-blood horses

Kędzierski¹,

Bełkot²,

Janczarek³

et al. 2016

PHK

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Summary: Horses are often transported. Road transport is stressful for horses and induces various rates of cortisol release related to breed and age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress level in cold-blood horses of different ages, in response transport over two different distances. The stress level was evaluated on the basis of cortisol concentrations in plasma and saliva samples taken during transportation procedures. A total of 36 cold-blood mares in the process of being sold and bought were included in the study. The horses were divided into four age-and distance-related groups. Twelve adult mares and 12 fillies were transported 50 km. The other two groups (six fillies and six adult mares) were transported 550 km. Samples were taken at rest, two times during the transportation procedure and 12 hours after transport 50 km or 24 hours after transport 550 km. Salivary and plasma cortisol concentrations increased during transportation procedures and remained elevated 12 and 24 hours after the end of transport. In conclusion, in cold-blood horses subjected to transportation, even 24 hours post-transport rest is insufficient to lower plasma and salivary cortisol concentrations to baseline values. Cold-blood, naive horses seem to be more sensitive to changes in location than to road transport. Saliva samples are useful for the determination of cortisol concentration in transported cold-blood horses.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Effects of transportation procedures on salivary and plasma cortisol concentrations in cold-blood horses

Kędzierski¹,

Bełkot²,

Janczarek³

et al. 2016

PHK

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“…In the present study, serum cortisol concentration slightly exceeded the upper value of normal range (Eades and Bounous, 1997) at all sampling times. The slightly higher than normal serum cortisol concentration in the blood sampled in the lairage might have been due to transport stress (Fazio et al, 2008;Werner and Gallo, 2008). There was a tendency for an increase in serum cortisol concentration at exsanguination; however, serum cortisol concentrations did not differ significantly among sampling times, which is in agreement with the study of Werner and Gallo (2008).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Serum cortisol and haematological, biochemical and antioxidant enzyme variables in horse blood sampled in a slaughterhouse lairage, immediately before stunning and during exsanguination

Svete

Čebulj‐Kadunc

Frangež

et al. 2012

Animal

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The aim of the study was to determine changes of serum cortisol and biochemical, haematological and antioxidant enzyme variables in the blood of horses sampled during the pre-slaughter period (in the lairage and in the stunning box) and during exsanguination. A total of 24 Slovenian warm-blooded horses were observed. Blood samples for determination of serum cortisol and biochemical, haematological (red blood cell count, haematocrit, haemaglobin concentration) and antioxidant enzyme (whole blood superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) variables were collected by venipuncture of the left jugular vein in the lairage pen, 60 min before stunning (lairage) and immediately before stunning (stunning box). At exsanguination, blood samples were collected from the wound at the time of jugular vein sticking. During blood collection in the lairage pen and in the stunning box, horses were gently restrained with a halter. They were stunned using a penetrating captive bolt pistol impelled by air and were bled by jugular vein sticking. Horses were physically active in the lairage pen and in the race before entering the stunning box. After stunning, the horses showed paddling movements with their legs. In horses, the plasma lactate and glucose concentrations, the serum potassium concentration, the activities of the serum muscle enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase, and values of most of the other biochemical (Table 1) and haematological variables (Table 2), were significantly (P< 0.05) higher at exsanguination, than in blood sampled while they were in the lairage and in the stunning box. The serum concentrations of cortisol and chloride and the activities of alanine aminotransferase and antioxidant enzymes were not significantly different between the pre-slaughter period and exsanguination. All selected blood variables were not significantly different between the lairge and the stunning box sampling time, indicating no physiological stress responses of the investigated horses to stressors, such as novelty of the pre-slaughter environment and handling, present in the slaughterhouse between the lairage and the stunning box. However, the significantly higher values, at exsanguination, for the plasma lactate and glucose concentrations, serum muscle enzyme activities and haematological variables, than during the pre-slaughter period, might partially be attributed to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, caused by stunning and bleeding.

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“…The authors concluded that HR is influenced by different sympathovagal mechanisms during stall rest, compared with the period during road transportation, and that HRV may be a sensitive indicator of stress in transported horses. β-endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol responses of 42 thoroughbred and crossbred stallions, before and after road transport to breeding stations over distances of 100, 200 and 300 km, were studied by Fazio et al (2008). All horses had previous trailering experience.…”

Section: Journey Timementioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Opinion Concerning the Welfare of Animals during Transport

2011

EFSA Journal

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The Scientific Opinion on the welfare of animals during transport reviewed the most recent scientific information concerning the main farm species. New scientific evidence and consequent conclusions and recommendations were arranged following the structure of Annex I of EC Regulation 1/2005 5 . On fitness for transport, recommendations for cattle and poultry were focused on repeated humane handling and careful inspection prior to transport. On the means of transport, use of partitions in horse transport, compulsory fasting of pigs with provision of water at stops, and temperature limits for poultry were major recommendations. Maintaining stability of animal groups was recommended as good practice, with special emphasis on the need to avoid mixing unfamiliar pigs or goats. On watering and feeding intervals, journey times and resting periods, journey duration should not exceed 12 hours for horses and 29 hours for cattle. Horses should be supplied with water one hour before and one hour after transport, and for cattle there should be a 24 hour recovery period with access to food and water. For rabbits, time spent inside the containers during lairage should be considered journey time. Space allowance for horses should be given in terms of kg/m 2 instead of m 2 /animal. For cattle and sheep, it is recommended that space allowances should be calculated according to an allometric equation relating size to body weight. Limits for stocking densities of broilers in containers should be related to thermal conditions. On the navigation systems, temperature monitoring systems should be incorporated. Minimum standards should be established regarding data type to be recorded, the 4 The changes do not affect the overall conclusions of the opinion. To avoid confusion, the original version of the opinion has been removed from the website, but is available on request, as is a version showing all the changes made.

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Circulating β-endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone and cortisol levels of stallions before and after short road transport: stress effect of different distances

Abstract: Background: Since transport evokes physiological adjustments that include endocrine responses, the objective of this study was to examine the responses of circulating β-endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels to transport stress in stallions.

Cited by 107 publications

References 47 publications

Effects of transportation procedures on salivary and plasma cortisol concentrations in cold-blood horses

Effects of transportation procedures on salivary and plasma cortisol concentrations in cold-blood horses

Serum cortisol and haematological, biochemical and antioxidant enzyme variables in horse blood sampled in a slaughterhouse lairage, immediately before stunning and during exsanguination

Scientific Opinion Concerning the Welfare of Animals during Transport

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