Gelson Genaro

Social condition affects hormone secretion and exploratory behavior in rats

Studies of behavior, endocrinology and physiology have described experiments in which animals housed in groups or in isolation were normally tested individually. The isolation of the animal from its group for testing is perhaps the most common situation used today in experimental procedures, i.e., there is no consideration of the acute stress which occurs when the animal is submitted to a situation different from that it is normally accustomed to, i.e., group living. In the present study, we used 90 male 120-day-old rats (Rattus norvegicus) divided into 5 groups of 18 animals, which were housed 3 per cage, in a total of 6 cages. The animals were tested individually or with their groups for exploratory behavior. Hormones were determined by radioimmunoassay using specific kits. The results showed statistically significant differences between testing conditions in terms of behavior and of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH: from 116.8 +/- 15.27 to 88.77 +/- 18.74 when in group and to 159.6 +/- 11.53 pg/ml when isolated), corticosterone (from 561.01 +/- 77.04 to 1036.47 +/- 79.81 when in group and to 784.71 +/- 55.88 ng/ml when isolated), luteinizing hormone (from 0.84 +/- 0.09 to 0.58 +/- 0.05 when in group and to 0.52 +/- 0.06 ng/ml when isolated) and prolactin (from 5.18 +/- 0.33 to 9.37 +/- 0.96 when in group and to 10.18 +/- 1.23 ng/ml when isolated) secretion, but not in terms of follicle-stimulating hormone or testosterone secretion. The most important feature observed was that in each cage there was one animal with higher ACTH levels than the other two; furthermore, the exploratory behavior of this animal was different, indicating the occurrence of almost constant higher vigilance in this animal (latency to leave the den in group: 99.17 +/- 34.95 and isolated: 675.3 +/- 145.3 s). The data indicate that in each group there is an animal in a peculiar situation and its behavior can be detected by ACTH determination in addition to behavioral performance.

The influence of handling and isolation postweaning on open field, exploratory and maternal behavior of female rats.

Fifty-three black-hooded female rats, raised from the 28th to the 128th day of life under four types of environmental conditions differing in social and handling factors, had their behavioral performance evaluated in eight tests involving exploration of a complex environment (EX) in two open field (OF) tests and in three pup-retrieving tests. These tests were held before, during and after the period of lactation of their first brood. Females differed from (previously studied) males in that environmental raising conditions had a much smaller influence, especially during the lactation period. Nevertheless, females raised in isolation tended to remain for longer times inside a protected den in the exploration tests and to have greater locomotion in the open field. Previous handling allowed a greater exploration during the first contact with the novel complex environment as well as greater activity in the open field. The presence of small pups drastically reduced the exploratory motivation, but the presence of pups more than 20 days old tended to increase it. Maternal behavior evaluated in the pup retrieval test and in the test of time for the female to leave the nest side of the double box system was markedly refractory to previous environmental influences.

Gato doméstico: futuro desafio para controle da raiva em áreas urbanas?

This article aims to promote a debate over the actual and (possibly) future increasing relevance of the domestic cat concerning public health, with emphasis on rabies (animal/urban) control. Scientific literature on the specific role played by cats, especially with respect to zoonoses is scarce. This species is becoming the most popular pet in the western urban context. This is particularly because of the lifestyle adopted by the population, who live in smaller houses and have little time available for pet care, relegating dogs to a less preferential position. Cats do not predominate as domestic animals in Brazil yet, but if these animals soon become the preferential pets in our country, strategies adopted during anti-rabies vaccination campaigns will need to be reviewed. Furthermore, the ethological features of the domestic felid will have to be considered, so that a more suitable approach for the vaccination of the recommended number of animals can be established.

Domestic cat predation on Neotropical species in an insular Atlantic Forest remnant in southeastern Brazil

The domestic cat Felis silvestris catus is considered a potential threat to the native fauna of regions it populates, particularly when it has free access to these areas. Although this problem is known in Brazil, little is known regarding the effects of this species on natural areas. This study aimed to obtain information concerning the diet of domestic cats by identifying the main items found in fecal samples from domestic cats. In addition, the effects of seasonality on the diet were examined, as it has been hypothesized that seasonal variation of food items has little influence of the diet of the domestic cat. These semi-domiciled cats are thought to face a constant and continuous supply food offered by their owners throughout the year. Feces were collected in a remnant fragment of an Atlantic Forest located south of the municipality of Ilha Comprida — SP, Brazil. These samples provided important information regarding the dietary ecology and predation behavior of this species in endangered forest areas. The results of the scat content analyses demonstrated that domestic cats inserted in this biome presented a generalist and opportunist diet with little seasonal variation, even when receiving food from their owners. The most frequently consumed groups of prey were insects (20.8%) followed by mammals (13.9%) and birds (4.0%). Although the cat is not the only factor that impacts the species of the region, management programs need to be established in conjunction with the local community with the aim of minimizing the pressure exerted by these animals on the native fauna.

Time Budget and Activity Patterns of Oncilla Cats (Leopardus tigrinus) in Captivity

Researchers have reported on the diet of Leopardus tigrinus and ecological aspects, but studies of behavior are scarce. The aims of this study were to describe the time budget and activity patterns of 10 captive Leopardus tigrinus individuals. The group had an activity budget of 66% resting, 20.66% moving, 6.08% vigilant, 3.12% feeding, and 4.14% other activities during 720 hr of observations. The activity budgets of the males and females did not differ significantly; however, males ate more than did females. The nonhuman animals spent more time resting during the day than during the night. Moving, socializing, maintenance, and vigilance showed statistically higher mean values at night. Group analysis of the temporal pattern of behavior showed bimodal peaks. Activity levels were high from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. and decreased through the day only to peak again at 7 p.m. Stereotypic pacing peaked at dawn and at dusk. Patterns of vigilance, feeding, and maintenance were also determined for the group during a 24-hr period. These results may be useful for the development of management plans and effective conservation strategies for captive cats.

Diet of the coati Nasua nasua (Carnivora: Procyonidae) in an area of woodland inserted in an urban environment in Brazil

Los coaties son omnivoros cuya dieta se compone de pequenos vertebrados, invertebrados y frutas. En zonas urbanas, pueden ingerir residuos de alimentos provenientes de desechos domesticos proximos a su habitat, como tambien alimentos ofrecidos por seres humanos. El presente trabajo investiga la dieta de coaties a traves del analisis de 56 muestras de heces colectadas en el Morro Imperador, un fragmento de bosque incluido en una area urbana del municipio de Juiz de Fora, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Los resultados indican una dieta con amplitud de nicho de 0,4 siendo que, en que la porcentaje de ocurrencia de insectos (34.9 %) y frutas (19.9 %) constituyen los principales componentes alimentarios. La presencia de alimentos debido a la accion humana (directa o indirecta) tambien es constante durante todo el ano (14.1 %), lo que demuestra la capacidad de adaptacion de estos animales en ambientes modificados.

Cortisol influence on testicular testosterone secretion in domestic cat: An in vitro study

The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of corticosteroids (exogen) on in vitro testosterone secretion after stress by transportation (40 minutes). Feline testes (Felis silvestris catus) were incubated in the following media: TCM 199; TCM 199 + hCG 10_7M; TCM 199 + hydrocortisone 10_7M, or TCM 199 + hCG + hydrocortisone. The animals (n=21) were allocated into three groups: (S) that arrived at 3 h prior to surgery, (A) that remained in the laboratory for 36 h before being submitted to surgical procedure, and (C) that were also allowed to remain for 36 hours in the laboratory before the surgical procedure, but whose testes had been incubated with hydrocortisone prior to incubation in the referred media. The results showed that group S secreted higher levels of testosterone, regardless of the culture media. It is noteworthy that the suppressing action of hydrocortisone sodium succinate led to a reduction in the testosterone concentration, despite the presence of hCG.

The effects of intrinsic enrichment on captive felids

Environmental enrichment is a well-known technique, which has been used to enhance the welfare of captive animals. The aim of this study is to investigate how three different forms of intrinsic enrichment, namely, a hay ball without scent, a hay ball with catnip, and a hay ball with cinnamon, influenced the behavior of six cheetah and two Sumatran tigers at Fota Wildlife Park, Ireland. Enrichment-directed behaviors, as well as pacing, locomotion, inactive, and exploratory behaviors were investigated. The results indicated that the three forms of enrichment had similar effects, in terms of enrichment-directed behavior, with cinnamon resulting in the highest levels of enrichment-directed behaviors. The cinnamon treatment resulted in a significant decrease in pacing behavior when compared with baseline observations. No evidence of habituation (i.e., a significant reduction in enrichment-directed behaviors) was observed for any of the three enrichments. This means that these low cost, easy to apply, practical forms of enrichment could be frequently applied for these species as part of an enrichment regime.

Spatial overlap between domestic cats and wild felines in an insular Atlantic Forest remnant

Anthropogenic changes are a major threat to biodiversity. One of these possible changes that affect biodiversity is the introduction of domestic species in the environment, which might represent a threat to wild species. The domestic cat, in particular, has biological and behavioral characteristics that allow a great adaptability to natural areas, thus representing a potential risk to the native species, mainly to the other members of the Felidae family. In this study, the spatial overlap between four species of Neotropical wildcats and domestic cats living in an Atlantic Forest Protected Area in one of the most important forest remnants of this ecosystem was verified. The results indicate the need to adopt mitigation measures against the potential risks of this interaction with the goal of preserving the native species.

The Use of Refuges by Communally Housed Cats

Simple Summary Captive domestic cats frequently suffer from the lack of physical space and opportunities to perform species-typical behaviors, such as climbing or hiding. Environmental enrichment is a technique that helps transform the space available to animals into a more appropriate habitat. In this study, we tested horizontal and vertical refuge boxes as environmental enrichment for cats living communally in a cat rescue shelter. The provision of boxes in the environment increases the use of available space by the cats. We suggest this improves the cats’ welfare while in communally-housed rescue shelters. Abstract The increase of domestic animals kept in shelters highlights the need to ensure animal welfare. Environmental enrichment can improve animal welfare in many ways, such as encouraging captive animals to use all the space available to them. The effects of physical environmental enrichment on the spatial distribution and behavioral repertoire of 35 neutered domestic cats housed communally were analyzed. The provision of boxes in the environment increases the use of available space by the cats. We suggest this improves the cats’ welfare while in communally-housed rescue shelters. The frequencies of active and especially inactive behaviors also increased in the enriched condition. In a test with vertical environmental enrichment, the animals showed an increased length of stay in refuges located at a height of 0.5 m compared to those on the ground (0.0 m). However, the entry frequency was higher in refuges at 0.0 m. Both horizontal and vertical environmental enrichment increased the use of available space, demonstrating that box refuges as enrichment are effective in providing a refuge when at a height, or a place to explore at ground level. We suggest it enhances the welfare of cats in communally housed shelters. This information adds to the body of evidence relating to cat enrichment and can be useful in designing cat housing in veterinary clinics, research laboratories, shelters and domestic homes.