北京南海子麋鹿苑春季麋鹿粪样皮质醇激素变化及其指示作用

皮质醇是衡量动物应激状态的重要指标,为了研究游客对麋鹿应激状态的影响,通过非损伤性取样的方式,并同时调查游客数量,应用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)对北京麋鹿苑春季麋鹿粪便皮质醇激素含量进行检测。结果表明,麋鹿粪样中的皮质醇变化均与前一日麋鹿苑内的游客量显著性相关,而与当日客流量的相关性则不明显,即表示麋鹿粪样中的皮质醇存在1 d左右的延迟性,与麋鹿从吃下食物到排粪约需1 d左右时间相一致。皮质醇激素变化范围表明北京麋鹿苑麋鹿的应激生理指标参数有一定波动范围,可作为将来对疑似患病个体进行诊断分析,为麋鹿个体诊断管理提供依据。

Fecal Cortisol Steroids Assay for Tourist Disturbance on Captive Père David's Deer During Spring in Beijing Nan-Haizi Milu Park

Cortisol is an important indicator to measure stress levels in animals.We studied the influence of tourists on stress levels of Père David's deer.We collected feces by non-invasive sampling and tested the content of fecal cortisol hormones by use of ELISA at Beijing Milu Park,Beijing,China,in spring.At the same time,we recorded numbers of tourists.Levels of cortisol in deer fecal samples were significantly related to tourist numbers on the preceding day but were unrelated to tourist numbers on the sampling day.This indicates that cortisol production was delayed by about one day,which is consistent with the food transmit time(one day)for Père David's deer.The range in change of cortisol hormone levels indicates that there was fluctuation in the range of physiological response to stress.This relationship has potential for use as a diagnostic tool for analyzing future deer fatalities and as a basis for the management of Père David's deer.