Preservation of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and immunoglobulin A through silica gel drying for field studies in horses.

ABSTRACT: Non-invasive methods enable stress evaluation through measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the feces avoiding stressful blood drawing or stressful restraining of animals in the field. However, FGMs and IgA are mostly analysed in freshly frozen samples, which is difficult when fresh samples cannot be frozen immediately or frozen samples cannot be stored or transported. Good results were also derived from air-dried fecal samples, which are hampered by unstable air humidity in the field. These difficulties may be overcome, when drying of samples could be induced with colorless silica gel (SiO₂) granules in a secure set-up, such as an air tight tube. We determined the speed of drying 1.5 g of a fresh fecal sample from six horses on air and

SUBMITTER: Krueger K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6821355 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature