A novel field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) fecal samples for noninvasive hormone metabolite analysis,
The traditional methods of preserving fecal samples to suspend hormone-degrading bacteria are not always options during remote fieldwork when studying wildlife endocrinology. Our goal was to develop a field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) feces for hormone metabolite analysis by de...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | MethodsX |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016122002606 |
| _version_ | 1811187225073811456 |
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| author | Katherine J. Fowler Rachel M. Santymire |
| author_facet | Katherine J. Fowler Rachel M. Santymire |
| author_sort | Katherine J. Fowler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The traditional methods of preserving fecal samples to suspend hormone-degrading bacteria are not always options during remote fieldwork when studying wildlife endocrinology. Our goal was to develop a field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) feces for hormone metabolite analysis by determining the stability of fecal hormone metabolites: 1) when exposed to the natural environment, and 2) in silica beads at ambient temperatures. We collected fresh feces from zoo-housed lions and combined them into two (male and female) homogenous samples. Each was divided into eight samples to undergo a cross-designed treatment. • We immediately lyophilized one sample to serve as the control. • We then exposed seven samples outside to natural environmental conditions for 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, or 72 h. After outdoor exposure, we desiccated a subsample in silica beads for an additional 5, 7, or 10 days. • We analyzed the fecal hormone metabolite concentrations in each sample using enzyme immunoassays for corticosterone, cortisol, testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol.We determined that male and female fecal hormone metabolites in fresh African lion fecal samples are stable and comparable to a standardized desiccation method if dried in silica beads for 5 to 10 days prior to storing them at -20℃. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:58:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc5d1b3f14304ebdb2caafbce7dc1df3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2215-0161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:58:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MethodsX |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc5d1b3f14304ebdb2caafbce7dc1df32022-12-22T04:20:11ZengElsevierMethodsX2215-01612022-01-019101881A novel field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) fecal samples for noninvasive hormone metabolite analysis,Katherine J. Fowler0Rachel M. Santymire1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607, United States; Corresponding author.Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607, United States; Biology Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United StatesThe traditional methods of preserving fecal samples to suspend hormone-degrading bacteria are not always options during remote fieldwork when studying wildlife endocrinology. Our goal was to develop a field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) feces for hormone metabolite analysis by determining the stability of fecal hormone metabolites: 1) when exposed to the natural environment, and 2) in silica beads at ambient temperatures. We collected fresh feces from zoo-housed lions and combined them into two (male and female) homogenous samples. Each was divided into eight samples to undergo a cross-designed treatment. • We immediately lyophilized one sample to serve as the control. • We then exposed seven samples outside to natural environmental conditions for 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, or 72 h. After outdoor exposure, we desiccated a subsample in silica beads for an additional 5, 7, or 10 days. • We analyzed the fecal hormone metabolite concentrations in each sample using enzyme immunoassays for corticosterone, cortisol, testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol.We determined that male and female fecal hormone metabolites in fresh African lion fecal samples are stable and comparable to a standardized desiccation method if dried in silica beads for 5 to 10 days prior to storing them at -20℃.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016122002606Drying of faecal samples in silica beads prior to steroid hormone extraction and quantification. |
| spellingShingle | Katherine J. Fowler Rachel M. Santymire A novel field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) fecal samples for noninvasive hormone metabolite analysis, MethodsX Drying of faecal samples in silica beads prior to steroid hormone extraction and quantification. |
| title | A novel field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) fecal samples for noninvasive hormone metabolite analysis, |
| title_full | A novel field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) fecal samples for noninvasive hormone metabolite analysis, |
| title_fullStr | A novel field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) fecal samples for noninvasive hormone metabolite analysis, |
| title_full_unstemmed | A novel field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) fecal samples for noninvasive hormone metabolite analysis, |
| title_short | A novel field method for preserving African lion (Panthera leo) fecal samples for noninvasive hormone metabolite analysis, |
| title_sort | novel field method for preserving african lion panthera leo fecal samples for noninvasive hormone metabolite analysis |
| topic | Drying of faecal samples in silica beads prior to steroid hormone extraction and quantification. |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016122002606 |
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