Measurement of catestatin and vasostatin in wild boar Sus scrofa captured in a corral trap

Abstract

Objective Our aim was to analyse the chromogranin A-derived peptides vasostatin and catestatin in serum from wild boar (Sus scrofa) captured in a corral trap. Acute capture-related stress quickly leads to a release of adrenalin and noradrenalin, but these hormones have a short half-life in blood and are difficult to measure. Chromogranin A (CgA), a glycoprotein which is co-released with noradrenalin and adrenalin, is relatively stable in circulation and the CgA-derived peptides catestatin and vasostatin have been measured in domestic species, but not yet in wildlife. Results Vasostatin and catestatin could be measured and the median (range) serum concentrations were 0.91 (0.54–2.86) and 0.65 (0.35–2.62) nmol/L, respectively. We conclude that the CgA-derived peptides vasostatin and catestatin can be measured in wild boar serum and may thus be useful as biomarkers of psychophysical stress.

Refining animal welfare of wild boar (Sus scrofa) corral-style traps through behavioral and pathological investigations

“…Physiological alterations such as increased levels of stress hormone or their metabolites, elevated body temperature and blood pressure or changes in hematological variables has been used for animal welfare evaluation in trapping [ 13 , 20 , 23 , 24 ]. The capture of free-ranging wildlife can cause a stress response [ 25 ].…”