Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Deepika Diana Jesse, Aditya Mishra, Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Satya Nidhi Shukla, Kajal Jadav, Jyotsana Shakkarpude, Anand Kumar Jain, Sanju Mandal, Anil Gattani, Purnima Singh, Pragati Patel and Charu Sharma

Abstract:
Stress can be defined as any internal or external factor that affects the homeostasis of the animal. The factors by which it is caused are called as stressors. Stress is one of the known factors to have an impact on the reproductive physiology of the animals in terms of reduced fertility and sexual behaviour, as, it is believed that the stress hormones have inhibiting effect on gonadotropin releasing hormone. The wild felids are thought to get easily stressed while capturing, which, can have effect on the normal hormonal profile. Non- invasive collection of samples includes the collection of faeces and urine from the animals’ enclosure or night cell in captivity without disturbing the normal routine of the animal. Faecal and urine samples of nine adult healthy animals which was deposited in the morning or 24 hours were collected on weekly intervals for 14 weeks from the night cell. Faecal samples were dried and extracted for cortisol by ethanol, whereas, urine puddles were collected from the floor by aspirating with the sterilized syringe. the least average value for faecal and urine cortisol has been found in the third week (4269 ± 932 pg/g) and tenth week (5541 ± 763 pg/mL), whereas, highest mean value for faecal and urine cortisol was observed on the second week (8652 ± 2484 pg/g) and fifth week (42077 ± 31906 pg/mL) respectively. It has shown a significant change between the groups on the first week of the trial for faecal cortisol, in which the lowest average value was exhibited by the G III (2444 ± 1309 pg/g) and the highest in G II (10310 ± 2542 pg/g). However, urine cortisol has shown a significant change between the groups on the fourth week of the trial with the highest value being exhibited by the G III (25250 ± 1380 pg/mL) and lowest in the G I (5183 ± 691 pg/mL). It was observed that the concentration of cortisol remains elevated in unmated group of animals as compared to mated animals.