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Long-tailed macaques are highly social primates that are commonly used in biomedical research as animal models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different kinds of enrichment on the behaviour and faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) level in a colony of ex-laboratory long-tailed macaques during a programme of rehabilitation. The research was carried out in three periods, divided into two sessions each. Every period was composed of one control session (SC) and one session characterised by one type of enrichment: feeding enrichment (FE), manipulative enrichment (ME), and the last session during which manipulative and feeding enrichment were provided every day but in a mixed way (MIX). The results showed that manipulative and mixed enrichments caused positive changes to the activity budget of the colony, with a decrease in abnormal behaviour rates and an increase in play compared with control sessions. The rate of affiliative behaviours and low rate of aggression were probably because the group was composed mostly of females and it was stable, with a well-defined hierarchy. The research underlines the importance of a well-studied enrichment programme for the welfare of captive animals, which should exploit species-specific motivations.

The effect of transport on Cortisol and Glucose serum concentrations were assessed in rabbits during summer and winter. Animals were divided into high (HSA, 307 cm2/rabbit), medium (MSA, 373 cm2/rabbit) and low space allowance (LSA, 475 cm2/rabbit) transport groups, and rabbits slaughtered directly in the farm were used as control group (C). During summer, cortisol and glucose concentrations were significantly higher in HSA (high space allowance), MSA and LSA than in C rabbits (P

none 8 no Stressful situations trigger several changes such as the secretion of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) from the adrenal cortex, in response to ACTH. The aim of this study was to verify whether overstocking during the dry period (from 21±3 d to the expected calving until calving) affects DHEA and cortisol secretion and behavior in Holstein Friesian cows. Twenty-eight cows were randomly divided into 2 groups (14 animals each), balanced for the number of lactations, body condition score, and expected date of calving. Cows in the far-off phase of the dry period (from 60 to 21 d before the expected calving date) were housed together in a bedded pack. Then, animals from 21±3 d before the expected calving until calving were housed in pens with the same size but under different crowding conditions due to the introduction of heifers (interference animals) into the pen. The control condition (CTR) had 2 animals per pen with 12.0m2 each, whereas the overstocked condition (OS) had 3 interference animals in the same pen with 4.8m2 for each animal. On d −30±3, −21±3, −15±3, −10±3, and −5±3 before and 10, 20, and 30 after calving, blood samples were collected from each cow for the determination of plasma DHEA and cortisol concentrations by RIA. Rumination time (min/d), activity (steps/h), lying time (min/d), and lying bouts (bouts/d) were individually recorded daily. In both groups, DHEA increased before calving and the concentration declined rapidly after parturition. Overstocking significantly increased DHEA concentration compared with the CTR group at d −10 (1.79±0.09 vs. 1.24±0.14 pmol/mL), whereas an increase of cortisol was observed at d −15 (3.64±0.52 vs. 1.64±0.46ng/mL). The OS group showed significantly higher activity (steps/h) compared with the CTR group. Daily lying bouts tended to be higher for the OS group compared with CTR group in the first week of treatment. The overall results of this study documented that overstocking during the dry period was associated with a short-term changes in DHEA and cortisol but these hormonal modifications did not influence cow behavior. open Fustini, M.; Galeati, G; Gabai, G.; Mammi, L.E.; Bucci, D.; Baratta, M.; Accorsi, P.A.; Formigoni, A. Fustini, M.; Galeati, G; Gabai, G.; Mammi, L.E.; Bucci, D.; Baratta, M.; Accorsi, P.A.; Formigoni, A.

The persistence of M. canis infections in asymptomatic subjects, even after treatments or vaccination, is a well-known phenomenon in cats. The failure of some commercial vaccine could be related to a weak activation of cell-mediated immune response (Lund A, 2010, Parassitologia, 52, 131-133). Since host steroid hormones are involved in the modulation of the immune response, we carried out a survey to assess their levels in cats’ hairs, in presence/absence of M. canis infection

Increased levels of cortisol in response to stress are known to predispose to reduced immunocompetence, favouring the onset and progression of infectious diseases. Vice versa, endocrine functions can be modulated by parasitic infections (Besedovsky HO, Del Rey A, 1996, Endocr, Rev, 17: 64-102). Since we could find no published studies correlating parasitic infections and steroid hormones in the domestic cat, we conducted an initial screening aimed at determining hormonal levels associated with the presence of gastrointestinal parasites.

– In the course of parasitic infections, host hormones are involved in the modulation of the protective functions but also of pathogenetic mechanisms pertaining to the immune system. Simultaneously, moreover, host hormones modulate growth, metabolism and reproduction of the parasite itself. The purpose of this work was to perform an initial screening in the domestic cat to assess the levels of steroid hormones in the presence of ectoparasitic infections, in particular of dermatophytosis.

Fino ad oggi i tentativi di individuare parametri endocrini in grado di definire il “benessere animale” hanno preso in considerazione il rilascio di ormoni in circolo da parte dell’asse ipotalamo-ipofisi-surrene. In precedenti nostre ricerche nella specie canina abbiamo osservato che anche il dosaggio di cortisolo dal pelo può essere utilizzato a tale scopo. Sulla base di queste osservazioni, gli obiettivi della presente ricerca sono stati quelli di determinare i livelli di cortisolo nel pelo di cani di canile e di proprietà. Sono stati utilizzati 300 cani: 204 (127 M, 77 F) ospitati in 7 diversi canili e 96 (40 M, 56 F) di proprietà. I cani ospitati nei canili avevano un’età media di 6,04 ± 0,22 anni (media ± ES) mentre quelli di proprietà di 5,11 ± 0,44 anni. Il tempo medio di permanenza in canile era di 3,94 ± 0,17 anni mentre i cani di proprietà convivevano con il proprietario da 4,82 ± 0,44 anni. Tutti i soggetti sono stati sottoposti a prelievo di pelo. Su tali campioni, previa specifica estrazione, sono state dosate, mediante RIA, le concentrazioni di cortisolo. Il confronto tra i cani di proprietà e quelli dei canili ha evidenziato differenze significativa (P