Non-invasive methods to measure inter-renal function in aquatic salamanders—correlating fecal corticosterone to the environmental and physiologic conditions of captive Necturus

Nagel, Andrew H; Beshel, Mark; DeChant, Christopher J.; Huskisson, Sarah M.; Campbell, Mark; Stoops, Monica A.

doi:10.1093/conphys/coz074

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…However, the American toad had no response to the saline injection ( Santymire et al , 2018 ). Similarly, in ACTH challenges with waterborne corticosterone in aquatic salamanders, Gabor et al (2016 ) and Nagel et al (2019) found no significant difference in waterborne corticosterone in ACTH and saline treatments, but Gabor et al (2016) found that ACTH-treatment salamanders exhibited higher GCs than non-injected control salamanders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Dermal swabs can be quickly collected within 30 seconds, adding minimal handling time to the established sampling protocol. Recent work has used water sampling, where an amphibian is placed in a set amount of water for ~15 minutes up to several hours, thus allowing GCs to be secreted in the water ( Reedy et al , 2014 ; Gabor et al , 2016 ; Forsburg et al , 2019 ; Nagel et al , 2019 ). However, it is difficult to determine if the GCs measured are in response to the animal’s environment or to being put in the container.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using dermal glucocorticoids to determine the effects of disease and environment on the critically endangered Wyoming toad

Santymire

Sacerdote-Velat²,

Gygli

et al. 2021

Conservation Physiology

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Amphibian populations are declining worldwide, and increased exposure to environmental stressors, including global climate change and pathogens like Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), may be contributing to this decline. Our goal was to use a novel dermal swabbing method to measure glucocorticoid (GC) hormones and investigate the relationship among disease and environmental conditions in the critically endangered Wyoming toad (Anaxyrus baxteri). Our objectives were to (i) validate the use of dermal swabs to measure GCs using an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge on eight captive toads (4 ACTH: 2 M, 2F and 4 saline as a control: 2 M, 2F), (ii) investigate stress physiology and disease status of toads across six reintroduction sites and (iii) compare dermal cortisol between reintroduced and captive toads. Dermal cortisol peaked immediately after the ACTH and saline injections. Faecal GC metabolites (FGMs) were significantly higher one week after the ACTH injection compared with the week before. Saline-injected toads had no change in FGM over time. Toads were only found in three reintroduction sites and dermal cortisol was similar across sites; however, reintroduced toads had higher dermal cortisol in August compared with June and compared with captive individuals. Bd status did not influence dermal cortisol concentrations. Dermal and faecal hormonal metabolite analyses can be used to study amphibian stress physiology and learn how environmental conditions are impacting population success.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using dermal glucocorticoids to determine the effects of disease and environment on the critically endangered Wyoming toad

Santymire

Sacerdote-Velat²,

Gygli

et al. 2021

Conservation Physiology

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show abstract

“…Typically, the aquatic environment also makes it difficult to collect urine and feces (see Figure 1 in [ 28 ]). In amphibians, researchers have analyzed hormones using a water container and quantified the concentration of GCs in a known amount of water [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Additionally, GCs have been collected using dermal swabs and have been validated for several amphibian species [ 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Investigation into Developing the Use of Swabs for Skin Cortisol Analysis for the Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola)

Santymire

Young

Lenihan

et al. 2022

Animals

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The ocean sunfish (mola; Mola mola) is the heaviest bony fish in the world. This slow-moving fish often is injured by fishing boats that use drift gillnets attributing to its listing as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey, CA, USA) has a program that brings in smaller molas from the ocean and acclimates them for an exhibit. When they grow too large for the million-gallon Open Seas exhibit, they are returned to Monterey Bay through a “reverse” acclimatization. Our overall goal was to use skin swabs to evaluate mola stress physiology to better understand the effects of this program. Our objectives were to validate this non-invasive method by taking opportunistic swabs throughout acclimatization and during stressful events. We swabbed each individual (n = 12) in three different body locations. Swabs were analyzed using a cortisol enzyme immunoassay. We averaged the three swabs and examined the absolute change of cortisol from the first taken upon handling to during treatments and the different acclimation stages. We considered elevated cortisol concentrations to be ≥1.5-fold higher than the first sample. Overall, mean (±SEM) cortisol varied among individuals (564.2 ± 191.5 pg/mL swab (range, 18.3–7012.0 pg/mL swab). The majority (four of six) of molas swabbed within the first week or month had elevated skin cortisol compared to their first sample. All seven molas that were being treated for an injury or illness had elevated skin cortisol (range, 1.7- to 127.6-fold higher) compared to their post-acclimation sample. This is the first step in validating the use of non-invasive skin swabs for glucocorticoid analysis in the mola. Further biochemical analysis is needed to determine the specific steroids that are being measured.

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Amphibian reproductive technologies: approaches and welfare considerations

Silla

Calatayud

Trudeau

2021

Conservation Physiology

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Captive breeding and reintroduction programs have been established for several threatened amphibian species globally, but with varied success. This reflects our relatively poor understanding of the hormonal control of amphibian reproduction and the stimuli required to initiate and complete reproductive events. While the amphibian hypothalamo–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis shares fundamental similarities with both teleosts and tetrapods, there are more species differences than previously assumed. As a result, many amphibian captive breeding programs fail to reliably initiate breeding behaviour, achieve high rates of fertilization or generate large numbers of healthy, genetically diverse offspring. Reproductive technologies have the potential to overcome these challenges but should be used in concert with traditional methods that manipulate environmental conditions (including temperature, nutrition and social environment). Species-dependent methods for handling, restraint and hormone administration (including route and frequency) are discussed to ensure optimal welfare of captive breeding stock. We summarize advances in hormone therapies and discuss two case studies that illustrate some of the challenges and successes with amphibian reproductive technologies: the mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa; USA) and the northern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi; Australia). Further research is required to develop hormone therapies for a greater number of species to boost global conservation efforts.

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Non-invasive methods to measure inter-renal function in aquatic salamanders—correlating fecal corticosterone to the environmental and physiologic conditions of captive Necturus

Cited by 4 publications

References 41 publications

Using dermal glucocorticoids to determine the effects of disease and environment on the critically endangered Wyoming toad

Using dermal glucocorticoids to determine the effects of disease and environment on the critically endangered Wyoming toad

Preliminary Investigation into Developing the Use of Swabs for Skin Cortisol Analysis for the Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola)

Amphibian reproductive technologies: approaches and welfare considerations

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