Individual stress responses to Sarcoptes scabiei infestation in Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica

Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2019 Sep 15:281:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.05.007. Epub 2019 May 13.

Abstract

In this study we have monitored the stress of Iberian ibex at individual level within the course of an experimental infection with Sarcoptes scabiei mites. For this purpose we have measured faecal 11-ketoetiocholanolone (11-k) using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). We used linear mixed models to explore the effects of host sex and age, clinic (mange status) and time (number of days post-infection) on the concentration of faecal 11-k. The most parsimonious model included clinic, time and host age, which explained 76.6% of the variance of the response variable. Moreover, the concentration of faecal 11-k varied greatly between individuals. Our results evidence the stressor nature of the disease and highlight the negative effects on hosts due to cortisol release and activity.

Keywords: Capra pyrenaica; Faecal 11-ketoetiocholanolone; HPLC-MS/MS; Individual stress response; Non-invasive monitoring; Sarcoptes scabiei.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Etiocholanolone / analogs & derivatives
  • Etiocholanolone / metabolism
  • Female
  • Goat Diseases / parasitology*
  • Goats / parasitology*
  • Goats / psychology*
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Sarcoptes scabiei / physiology*
  • Scabies / veterinary*
  • Stress, Psychological / complications*

Substances

  • Etiocholanolone
  • 11-ketoetiocholanolone