Analysis of 19 Minerals and Cortisol in Red Deer Hair in Two Different Areas of the Stelvio National Park: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to perform an investigation on the concentration of 19 minerals and cortisol in red deer (Cervus elaphus) hair, a matrix that is easy to collect with non-invasive and painless sampling, able to represent an integrative values of long-term substance concentrations, and able to give useful information, also when performed on dead animals, given its extreme stability over time. In the study thirty-five animals were included, coming from two different sides of a valley in the Stelvio National Park, where official water analysis had pointed out elevated concentrations of As in one of the two orographic sides. Hair cortisol concentrations were measured using a RIA(Radio Immuno Assay), while minerals were detected using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometry). Results showed a negative relationship between cortisol and some mineral concentrations (Li, Co, As, Cd, Cr and Tl) and significant differences in some mineral concentrations between park areas (Al, Co, Cu, Cd and Ni). As, Cr and cortisol differences approached statistical significance. This preliminary study represents a step forward in the study of wildlife allostatic load and a valid method for applications in wildlife management programs, in environmental studies and in public health programs.

Progesterone and Cortisol Levels in Blood and Hair of Wild Pregnant Red Deer (Cervus Elaphus) Hinds

“…Cortisol (CORT) is another important hormone, generally used as stress marker also in wild animals [15], but the evaluation of its plasma concentrations is considered as poorly reliable since the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is instantaneously activated upon stressful stimuli, such as restraint and blood sampling [16]. This is partially why, in the last years, alternative matrices for hormones' and other analytes' quantification have been proposed, including hair and feces, capable of providing different information regarding a longer timespan [17][18][19], also in red deer [20,21] and other frequently hunted ungulates [22]. For example, fecal CORT was proven to increase during late pregnancy with 10-year old females showing higher levels in comparison to five-year old hinds.…”

A Review of Non-Invasive Sampling in Wildlife Disease and Health Research: What’s New?

“…Hair samples are used for pollutant and mineral detection in a wide range of mammals, from bats to polar bears [163][164][165][166][167][168]. Similarly, hair can be used to detect medicine residuals [169].…”

“…Similarly, hair can be used to detect medicine residuals [169]. Further uses are the determination of cortisol concentrations for stress monitoring [167,[170][171][172][173][174][175][176] and the assessment of steroid hormone concentrations [177]. Some pathogens, for example, adenovirus and squirrelpox virus in Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) [178] and protozoa Leishmania infantum can be isolated from hair samples [179,180].…”

Inter- and intra-specific variation in hair cortisol concentrations of Neotropical bats

“…using stable isotope analyses; Fraser et al , 2010 ; Sullivan et al , 2012 ; Voigt et al , 2012 ; Oelbaum et al , 2019 ), condition (e.g. nutrition; Montillo et al , 2019 ), toxicant exposure ( Hernout et al , 2016 ; Becker et al , 2018 ) and molecular identification ( Magioli et al , 2019 ), opening possibilities for more integrative studies. However, analyses of hair samples can be challenging.…”