<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0065_s_005"><h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>The study measured the hormonal and protein markers of acute stress, those of oxidative stress and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in swine oral fluid, determined which of these parameters would be the most appropriate for future livestock welfare assessment and established the time when the samples should be taken.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0065_s_006"><h3>Material and Methods</h3>
<p>Stress was induced in 7 out of 14 castrated six-week-old Danbred×Duroc pigs by immobilisation on a nasal snare at 8 a.m., 1 p.m., and 6 p.m. and samples were taken both directly after the stressor was applied and 30 min later. The remaining pigs were the control group, which were not immobilised; their samples were taken at the same times. The concentrations of hormones and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, while those of alpha-amylase and TAC were measured using spectrophotometry.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0065_s_007"><h3>Results</h3>
<p>The levels of cortisol and cortisone increased with statistical significance immediately after the acute stress response and 30 min later. A cut-off value set at 0.25 ng/mL cortisol concentration was capable of distinguishing between the stressed and control groups with 100% accuracy in evening samples and 95% accuracy overall. Prednisolone was not present, and the levels of testosterone and corticosterone were low and not distinctive. Alpha-amylase became significantly more concentrated during stress induction and 30 min later. The TAC and MDA levels rose after the stress but without statistical significance.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0065_s_008"><h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The most suitable markers of acute stress were cortisol, cortisone and alpha-amylase. Oral fluid is a reliable material for monitoring the level of pigs’ stress and should be collected in the evening.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
The study measured the hormonal and protein markers of acute stress, those of oxidative stress and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in swine oral fluid, determined which of these parameters would be the most appropriate for future livestock welfare assessment and established the time when the samples should be taken.
Material and Methods
Stress was induced in 7 out of 14 castrated six-week-old Danbred×Duroc pigs by immobilisation on a nasal snare at 8 a.m., 1 p.m., and 6 p.m. and samples were taken both directly after the stressor was applied and 30 min later. The remaining pigs were the control group, which were not immobilised; their samples were taken at the same times. The concentrations of hormones and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, while those of alpha-amylase and TAC were measured using spectrophotometry.
Results
The levels of cortisol and cortisone increased with statistical significance immediately after the acute stress response and 30 min later. A cut-off value set at 0.25 ng/mL cortisol concentration was capable of distinguishing between the stressed and control groups with 100% accuracy in evening samples and 95% accuracy overall. Prednisolone was not present, and the levels of testosterone and corticosterone were low and not distinctive. Alpha-amylase became significantly more concentrated during stress induction and 30 min later. The TAC and MDA levels rose after the stress but without statistical significance.
Conclusion
The most suitable markers of acute stress were cortisol, cortisone and alpha-amylase. Oral fluid is a reliable material for monitoring the level of pigs’ stress and should be collected in the evening.

The markers of stress in swine oral fluid

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"The markers of stress in swine oral fluid"}

Introduction
The study measured the hormonal and protein markers of acute stress, those of oxidative stress and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in swine oral...

The markers of stress in swine oral fluid

Article Category: Review article

Publié en ligne: 02 déc. 2021

Pages: 487 - 495

Reçu: 09 juin 2021

Accepté: 22 nov. 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2021-0065

Mots clés
swine oral fluid, acute stress markers, oxidative stress, cortisol, alpha-amylase

© 2021 M. Giergiel et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The markers of stress in swine oral fluid

Article Category: Review article

Publié en ligne: 02 déc. 2021

Pages: 487 - 495

Reçu: 09 juin 2021

Accepté: 22 nov. 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2021-0065

Mots clésswine oral fluid, acute stress markers, oxidative stress, cortisol, alpha-amylase

© 2021 M. Giergiel et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
swine oral fluid, acute stress markers, oxidative stress, cortisol, alpha-amylase