Comparison of Corticosterone Concentrations in Dermal Secretions and Urine in Free-Ranging Marine Toads (Rhinella marina) in Human Care
Corticosterone concentrations have been measured in amphibians by collecting blood or urine samples. However, blood sampling is invasive, and urine can be difficult to collect. A novel method of swabbing the skin of an amphibian has been utilized in numerous species but has not been verified in mari...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Hindawi Limited
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Medicine International |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/1467549 |
| _version_ | 1797672809427632128 |
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| author | Emma Clarke Kimberly Ange-van Heugten Troy N. Tollefson Frank N. Ridgley Dustin Smith Janine L. Brown Heather Scott Larry J. Minter |
| author_facet | Emma Clarke Kimberly Ange-van Heugten Troy N. Tollefson Frank N. Ridgley Dustin Smith Janine L. Brown Heather Scott Larry J. Minter |
| author_sort | Emma Clarke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Corticosterone concentrations have been measured in amphibians by collecting blood or urine samples. However, blood sampling is invasive, and urine can be difficult to collect. A novel method of swabbing the skin of an amphibian has been utilized in numerous species but has not been verified in marine toads (Rhinella marina). This pilot study tested dermal swabs as a noninvasive method for collecting and measuring dermal corticosterone secretions. Swabs were used to collect dermal secretion samples from sixty-six free-ranging marine toads collected on Zoo Miami grounds. The subsequent day the toads were shipped to the North Carolina Zoo where dermal samples were collected again. Additional dermal and urine samples were collected on days 9, 15, 32, and 62 under human care to measure corticosterone concentrations. There was no significant correlation (P ≥ 0.05) noted between corticosterone concentrations reported in dermal swabs and those in urine samples at all four of the euthanasia time points or between the corticosterone concentrations reported in either urine or dermal swabs and the weight of the toads. Dermal swab concentrations (ng/mL) were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) on the day of capture (0.64 ± 0.03) and the day of arrival (0.67 ± 0.03) than on day 15 (0.47 ± 0.03). The urine corticosterone concentrations decreased while the toads were in human care with a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) between days 9 (0.45 ± 0.07) and 32 (0.21 ± 0.06). This study demonstrated that dermal swabs can be used to collect marine toad corticosterone concentration samples. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:35:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-334635c38a944092b54fd9c7d898343e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2042-0048 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:35:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Hindawi Limited |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Medicine International |
| spelling | doaj.art-334635c38a944092b54fd9c7d898343e2023-09-27T00:00:06ZengHindawi LimitedVeterinary Medicine International2042-00482023-01-01202310.1155/2023/1467549Comparison of Corticosterone Concentrations in Dermal Secretions and Urine in Free-Ranging Marine Toads (Rhinella marina) in Human CareEmma Clarke0Kimberly Ange-van Heugten1Troy N. Tollefson2Frank N. Ridgley3Dustin Smith4Janine L. Brown5Heather Scott6Larry J. Minter7Department of Clinical SciencesDepartment of Animal ScienceMazuri® Exotic Animal NutritionThe Conservation and Research DepartmentNorth Carolina ZooSmithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNorth Carolina ZooDepartment of Clinical SciencesCorticosterone concentrations have been measured in amphibians by collecting blood or urine samples. However, blood sampling is invasive, and urine can be difficult to collect. A novel method of swabbing the skin of an amphibian has been utilized in numerous species but has not been verified in marine toads (Rhinella marina). This pilot study tested dermal swabs as a noninvasive method for collecting and measuring dermal corticosterone secretions. Swabs were used to collect dermal secretion samples from sixty-six free-ranging marine toads collected on Zoo Miami grounds. The subsequent day the toads were shipped to the North Carolina Zoo where dermal samples were collected again. Additional dermal and urine samples were collected on days 9, 15, 32, and 62 under human care to measure corticosterone concentrations. There was no significant correlation (P ≥ 0.05) noted between corticosterone concentrations reported in dermal swabs and those in urine samples at all four of the euthanasia time points or between the corticosterone concentrations reported in either urine or dermal swabs and the weight of the toads. Dermal swab concentrations (ng/mL) were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) on the day of capture (0.64 ± 0.03) and the day of arrival (0.67 ± 0.03) than on day 15 (0.47 ± 0.03). The urine corticosterone concentrations decreased while the toads were in human care with a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) between days 9 (0.45 ± 0.07) and 32 (0.21 ± 0.06). This study demonstrated that dermal swabs can be used to collect marine toad corticosterone concentration samples.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/1467549 |
| spellingShingle | Emma Clarke Kimberly Ange-van Heugten Troy N. Tollefson Frank N. Ridgley Dustin Smith Janine L. Brown Heather Scott Larry J. Minter Comparison of Corticosterone Concentrations in Dermal Secretions and Urine in Free-Ranging Marine Toads (Rhinella marina) in Human Care Veterinary Medicine International |
| title | Comparison of Corticosterone Concentrations in Dermal Secretions and Urine in Free-Ranging Marine Toads (Rhinella marina) in Human Care |
| title_full | Comparison of Corticosterone Concentrations in Dermal Secretions and Urine in Free-Ranging Marine Toads (Rhinella marina) in Human Care |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of Corticosterone Concentrations in Dermal Secretions and Urine in Free-Ranging Marine Toads (Rhinella marina) in Human Care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of Corticosterone Concentrations in Dermal Secretions and Urine in Free-Ranging Marine Toads (Rhinella marina) in Human Care |
| title_short | Comparison of Corticosterone Concentrations in Dermal Secretions and Urine in Free-Ranging Marine Toads (Rhinella marina) in Human Care |
| title_sort | comparison of corticosterone concentrations in dermal secretions and urine in free ranging marine toads rhinella marina in human care |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/1467549 |
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