FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2019; 9(11); 993; doi: 10.3390/ani9110993

Changes in Saliva Analytes Correlate with Horses’ Behavioural Reactions to An Acute Stressor: A Pilot Study.

Abstract: Acute stress induces an array of behavioural reactions in horses that vary between individuals. Attempts to relate behavioural patterns and physiological responses have not always given clear-cut results. Here, we measured the changes in a panel of salivary components: salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), lipase, total esterase (TEA), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), adenosine deaminase (ADA), and cortisol, and their potential link with horses' behaviours after acute stress. Saliva samples were collected in nine riding horses subjected to a test consisting of opening an umbrella. Saliva sampling was obtained at a basal time point in the stall (T1), in the test indoor arena (T2), at a time of stress (T3), and 30 min (T4) and 60 min (T5) later. The horses' behaviour was recorded at T3 for 1 minute. sAA, lipase, TEA, and BChE showed significant changes along time, increasing at T3 for BChE, and decreasing at T4 for sAA and BChE. Butyrylcholinesterase appeared to be the most reliable predictor of behavioural responses, as it correlated with the index of emotionality, of laterality, and the occurrence of alarm signals, while sAA decreased when horses expressed quieter behaviours. These first results bring promising lines for novel, more precise physiological markers of acute stress in horses that can bridge the gap between behaviour and physiology.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2019-11-18 PubMed ID: 31752194PubMed Central: PMC6912570DOI: 10.3390/ani9110993Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates the correlation between changes in saliva analytes and behavioural reactions of horses under acute stress. The researchers found that certain salivary components are linked with specific behaviours exhibited by horses when subjected to sudden stress, providing potential new physiological markers for stress in horses which can help reconcile observed behaviour with physiological responses.

Study Design and Implementation

  • The researchers examined changes in a selection of salivary components: salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), lipase, total esterase (TEA), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), adenosine deaminase (ADA), and cortisol. These factors were selected due to previous research demonstrating their sensitivity to stress in different species.
  • The experiment deployed an umbrella-opening scenario to induce acute stress in nine riding horses. The umbrella test is a standardised test used for equine emotionality that involves suddenly opening an umbrella in the horse’s field of vision.

Data Collection and Behavioural Analysis

  • Saliva samples were collected from the horses at five different intervals – a base point in a stall (T1), in an indoor test arena (T2), during the umbrella-induced stress event (T3) and at 30 min (T4) and 60 min (T5) post-stress.
  • Recordings of the horses’ behaviour were taken during the one minute when the umbrella was opened to induce acute stress (T3).

Results and Interpretation

  • Results showed significant temporal changes in sAA, lipase, TEA, and BChE. Specifically, the levels of BChE increased during the stress event, while sAA and BChE levels decreased 30 minutes after.
  • A key finding was that BChE strongly correlated with distinct behavioural responses. It was linked with the emotionality index, lateralisation (the preference for one side of the body over the other), and the emission of alarm signals.
  • Conversely, horses that exhibited calmer behaviours had a reduction in sAA levels.

Implications of the Findings

  • The initial findings of this study provide valuable insight and promising directions for future research in identifying physiological markers for acute stress in horses.
  • The correlation between salivary components, particularly BChE and sAA, and stress-related behaviours can potentially bridge the gap between physiological and observable behavioural responses in horses under stress. This can guide more precise and effective stress management and care for horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Contreras-Aguilar MD, Henry S, Coste C, Tecles F, Escribano D, Cerón JJ, Hausberger M. (2019). Changes in Saliva Analytes Correlate with Horses’ Behavioural Reactions to An Acute Stressor: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel), 9(11), 993. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9110993

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 11
PII: 993

Researcher Affiliations

Contreras-Aguilar, María D
  • Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Campus of Excellence Mare Nostrum, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Henry, Séverine
  • Université de Rennes, Université de Normandie, CNRS, Laboratoire Ethologie et humaine-UMR CNRS 6552, Station Biologique, 35380 Paimpont, France.
Coste, Caroline
  • Université de Rennes, Université de Normandie, CNRS, Laboratoire Ethologie et humaine-UMR CNRS 6552, Station Biologique, 35380 Paimpont, France.
Tecles, Fernando
  • Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Campus of Excellence Mare Nostrum, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Escribano, Damián
  • Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Campus of Excellence Mare Nostrum, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
  • Department of Animal Production, Campus of Excellence Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
Cerón, Jose J
  • Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Campus of Excellence Mare Nostrum, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Hausberger, Martine
  • Université de Rennes, Université de Normandie, CNRS, Laboratoire Ethologie et humaine - UMR CNRS 6552, Campus de Beaulieu, Bat.25, 263 avenue du général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes CEDEX, France.

Grant Funding

  • 19894/GERM/15 / Fundaciu00f3n Su00e9neca
  • R-605/2016 / Universidad de Murcia

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

References

This article includes 49 references
  1. Lesimple C, Fureix C, LeScolan N, Richard-Yris M.A., Hausberger M. Housing conditions and breed are associated with emotionality and cognitive abilities in riding school horses.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2011;129:92–99.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2010.11.005google scholar: lookup
  2. Lansade L, Simon F. Horses’ learning performances are under the influence of several temperamental dimensions.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2010;125:30–37.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2010.02.010google scholar: lookup
  3. Hausberger M, Stomp M, Sankey C, Brajon S, Lunel C, Henry S. Mutual interactions between cognition and welfare: The horse as an animal model.. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019 Dec;107:540-559.
    doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.022pubmed: 31491471google scholar: lookup
  4. Le Scolan N, Hausberger M, Wolff A. Stability over situations in temperamental traits of horses as revealed by experimental and scoring approaches.. Behav Processes 1997 Dec;41(3):257-66.
    doi: 10.1016/S0376-6357(97)00052-1pubmed: 24896858google scholar: lookup
  5. Hausberger M, Bruderer C, Le Scolan N, Pierre JS. Interplay between environmental and genetic factors in temperament/personality traits in horses (Equus caballus).. J Comp Psychol 2004 Dec;118(4):434-46.
    doi: 10.1037/0735-7036.118.4.434pubmed: 15584780google scholar: lookup
  6. Wolff A, Hausberger M, Le Scolan N. Experimental tests to assess emotionality in horses.. Behav Processes 1997 Sep;40(3):209-21.
    doi: 10.1016/S0376-6357(97)00784-5pubmed: 24895882google scholar: lookup
  7. Fureix C, Jego P, Henry S, Lansade L, Hausberger M. Towards an ethological animal model of depression? A study on horses.. PLoS One 2012;7(6):e39280.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039280pmc: PMC3386251pubmed: 22761752google scholar: lookup
  8. Granger DA, Kivlighan KT, el-Sheikh M, Gordis EB, Stroud LR. Salivary alpha-amylase in biobehavioral research: recent developments and applications.. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2007 Mar;1098:122-44.
    doi: 10.1196/annals.1384.008pubmed: 17332070google scholar: lookup
  9. Nater UM, Rohleder N. Salivary alpha-amylase as a non-invasive biomarker for the sympathetic nervous system: current state of research.. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2009 May;34(4):486-96.
    doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.01.014pubmed: 19249160google scholar: lookup
  10. Schmidt A, Biau S, Möstl E, Becker-Birck M, Morillon B, Aurich J, Faure JM, Aurich C. Changes in cortisol release and heart rate variability in sport horses during long-distance road transport.. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2010 Apr;38(3):179-89.
    doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2009.10.002pubmed: 19962266google scholar: lookup
  11. Bohák Z, Szabó F, Beckers JF, Melo de Sousa N, Kutasi O, Nagy K, Szenci O. Monitoring the circadian rhythm of serum and salivary cortisol concentrations in the horse.. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2013 Jul;45(1):38-42.
    doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2013.04.001pubmed: 23688596google scholar: lookup
  12. Schmidt A, Aurich J, Möstl E, Müller J, Aurich C. Changes in cortisol release and heart rate and heart rate variability during the initial training of 3-year-old sport horses.. Horm Behav 2010 Sep;58(4):628-36.
    doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.06.011pubmed: 20600048google scholar: lookup
  13. Debono M, Harrison RF, Whitaker MJ, Eckland D, Arlt W, Keevil BG, Ross RJ. Salivary Cortisone Reflects Cortisol Exposure Under Physiological Conditions and After Hydrocortisone.. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2016 Apr;101(4):1469-77.
    doi: 10.1210/jc.2015-3694pubmed: 26812690google scholar: lookup
  14. Beerda B, Schilder MB, Janssen NS, Mol JA. The use of saliva cortisol, urinary cortisol, and catecholamine measurements for a noninvasive assessment of stress responses in dogs.. Horm Behav 1996 Sep;30(3):272-9.
    doi: 10.1006/hbeh.1996.0033pubmed: 8918684google scholar: lookup
  15. Peeters M, Sulon J, Beckers JF, Ledoux D, Vandenheede M. Comparison between blood serum and salivary cortisol concentrations in horses using an adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge.. Equine Vet J 2011 Jul;43(4):487-93.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00294.xpubmed: 21496072google scholar: lookup
  16. Henry S, Zanella AJ, Sankey C, Richard-Yris MA, Marko A, Hausberger M. Adults may be used to alleviate weaning stress in domestic foals (Equus caballus).. Physiol Behav 2012 Jun 25;106(4):428-38.
    doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.02.025pubmed: 22406387google scholar: lookup
  17. Strahler J, Skoluda N, Kappert MB, Nater UM. Simultaneous measurement of salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase: Application and recommendations.. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017 Dec;83:657-677.
    doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.08.015pubmed: 28864234google scholar: lookup
  18. Contreras-Aguilar MD, Escribano D, Martínez-Subiela S, Martín-Cuervo M, Lamy E, Tecles F, Cerón JJ. Changes in saliva analytes in equine acute abdominal disease: a sialochemistry approach.. BMC Vet Res 2019 Jun 6;15(1):187.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-1933-6pmc: PMC6554884pubmed: 31170977google scholar: lookup
  19. Contreras-Aguilar MD, Martínez-Subiela S, Cerón JJ, Martín-Cuervo M, Tecles F, Escribano D. Salivary alpha-amylase activity and concentration in horses with acute abdominal disease: Association with outcome.. Equine Vet J 2019 Sep;51(5):569-574.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13066pubmed: 30623475google scholar: lookup
  20. Contreras-Aguilar MD, Escribano D, Quiles A, López-Arjona M, Cerón JJ, Martínez-Subiela S, Hevia ML, Tecles F. Evaluation of new biomarkers of stress in saliva of sheep.. Animal 2019 Jun;13(6):1278-1286.
    doi: 10.1017/S1751731118002707pubmed: 30362447google scholar: lookup
  21. Tecles F, Contreras-Aguilar MD, Martínez-Miró S, Tvarijonaviciute A, Martínez-Subiela S, Escribano D, Cerón JJ. Total esterase measurement in saliva of pigs: Validation of an automated assay, characterization and changes in stress and disease conditions.. Res Vet Sci 2017 Oct;114:170-176.
    doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.04.007pubmed: 28441610google scholar: lookup
  22. Tecles F, Escribano D, Martínez-Miró S, Hernández F, Contreras MD, Cerón JJ. Cholinesterase in porcine saliva: Analytical characterization and behavior after experimental stress.. Res Vet Sci 2016 Jun;106:23-8.
    doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2016.03.006pubmed: 27234531google scholar: lookup
  23. Baganha MF, Pêgo A, Lima MA, Gaspar EV, Cordeiro AR. Serum and pleural adenosine deaminase. Correlation with lymphocytic populations.. Chest 1990 Mar;97(3):605-10.
    doi: 10.1378/chest.97.3.605pubmed: 1689629google scholar: lookup
  24. Murray AW. The biological significance of purine salvage.. Annu Rev Biochem 1971;40:811-26.
    doi: 10.1146/annurev.bi.40.070171.004115pubmed: 4330582google scholar: lookup
  25. Miyahara S, Komori T, Shizuya K, Nomura J. Changes of serum adenosine deaminase activity induced by stress in rats.. Hum. Psychopharmacol. 1998;13:325–327.
    doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1077(199807)13:5<325::AID-HUP3>3.0.CO;2-7google scholar: lookup
  26. Lesimple C, Fureix C, Menguy H, Hausberger M. Human direct actions may alter animal welfare, a study on horses (Equus caballus).. PLoS One 2010 Apr 28;5(4):e10257.
    doi: 10.1371/annotation/530e1439-fee8-434c-97b1-7d2cd87e2e46pmc: PMC2860978pubmed: 20442766google scholar: lookup
  27. Stomp M, Leroux M, Cellier M, Henry S, Lemasson A, Hausberger M. An unexpected acoustic indicator of positive emotions in horses.. PLoS One 2018;13(7):e0197898.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197898pmc: PMC6040684pubmed: 29995876google scholar: lookup
  28. Altmann J. Observational study of behavior: sampling methods.. Behaviour 1974;49(3):227-67.
    doi: 10.1163/156853974X00534pubmed: 4597405google scholar: lookup
  29. Contreras-Aguilar MD, Escribano D, Martín-Cuervo M, Tecles F, Cerón JJ. Salivary alpha-amylase activity and cortisol in horses with acute abdominal disease: a pilot study.. BMC Vet Res 2018 May 10;14(1):156.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1482-4pmc: PMC5946548pubmed: 29747642google scholar: lookup
  30. Fuentes-Rubio M, Fuentes F, Otal J, Quiles A, Tecles F, Cerón J.J., Hevia M.L. Measurements of salivary alpha-amylase in horse: Comparison of 2 different assays.. J. Vet. Behav. Clin. Appl. Res. 2015;10:122–127.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2014.12.008google scholar: lookup
  31. Tecles F, Rubio CP, Contreras-Aguilar MD, López-Arjona M, Martínez-Miró S, Martínez-Subiela S, Cerón JJ. Adenosine deaminase activity in pig saliva: analytical validation of two spectrophotometric assays.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 Jan;30(1):175-179.
    doi: 10.1177/1040638717742947pmc: PMC6504151pubmed: 29145785google scholar: lookup
  32. Escribano D, Fuentes-Rubio M, Cerón JJ. Validation of an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay for salivary cortisol measurements in pigs.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2012 Sep;24(5):918-23.
    doi: 10.1177/1040638712455171pubmed: 22914821google scholar: lookup
  33. Rogers L.J. Lateralization in vertebrates: Its early evolution, general pattern, and development.. Adv. Study Behav. 2002;31:107–161.
  34. d'Ingeo S, Quaranta A, Siniscalchi M, Stomp M, Coste C, Bagnard C, Hausberger M, Cousillas H. Horses associate individual human voices with the valence of past interactions: a behavioural and electrophysiological study.. Sci Rep 2019 Aug 9;9(1):11568.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47960-5pmc: PMC6689011pubmed: 31399629google scholar: lookup
  35. Larose C, Richard-Yris MA, Hausberger M, Rogers LJ. Laterality of horses associated with emotionality in novel situations.. Laterality 2006 Jul;11(4):355-67.
    doi: 10.1080/13576500600624221pubmed: 16754236google scholar: lookup
  36. Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang AG, Buchner A. G*Power 3: a flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences.. Behav Res Methods 2007 May;39(2):175-91.
    doi: 10.3758/BF03193146pubmed: 17695343google scholar: lookup
  37. Hinkle D.E., Wiersma W., Jurs S.G. Applied Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. 5th ed. Houghton Mifflin; Boston, MA, USA: 2003.
  38. Lee PC, Purcell ES, Borysewicz R, Klein RM, Werlin SL. Developmental delay of lingual lipase expression after guanethidine-induced sympathectomy.. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1992 Feb;199(2):192-8.
    doi: 10.3181/00379727-199-43346pubmed: 1741411google scholar: lookup
  39. Contreras-Aguilar MD, Escribano D, Martínez-Subiela S, Martínez-Miró S, Cerón JJ, Tecles F. Changes in alpha-amylase activity, concentration and isoforms in pigs after an experimental acute stress model: an exploratory study.. BMC Vet Res 2018 Aug 29;14(1):256.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1581-2pmc: PMC6116453pubmed: 30157843google scholar: lookup
  40. Scheidegger MD, Gerber V, Ramseyer A, Schüpbach-Regula G, Bruckmaier RM, van der Kolk JH. Repeatability of the ACTH stimulation test as reflected by salivary cortisol response in healthy horses.. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2016 Oct;57:43-7.
    doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.04.002pubmed: 27565229google scholar: lookup
  41. Tamarin A. Myoepithelium of the rat submaxillary gland.. J Ultrastruct Res 1966 Oct;16(3):320-38.
    doi: 10.1016/S0022-5320(66)80066-7pubmed: 5929367google scholar: lookup
  42. Schwinn AC, Sauer FJ, Gerber V, Bruckmaier RM, Gross JJ. Free and bound cortisol in plasma and saliva during ACTH challenge in dairy cows and horses.. J Anim Sci 2018 Feb 15;96(1):76-84.
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skx008pmc: PMC6140936pubmed: 29378066google scholar: lookup
  43. Fedorova T, Knudsen CS, Mouridsen K, Nexo E, Borghammer P. Salivary acetylcholinesterase activity is increased in Parkinson's disease: a potential marker of parasympathetic dysfunction.. Parkinsons Dis 2015;2015:156479.
    doi: 10.1155/2015/156479pmc: PMC4342069pubmed: 25767737google scholar: lookup
  44. Yamanouchi K, Hayashida N, Kuba S, Sakimura C, Kuroki T, Togo M, Katayama N, Takamura N, Eguchi S. Increase in Operator's Sympathetic Nerve Activity during Complicated Hepatobiliary Surgery: Evidence for Surgeons' Mental Stress.. Tohoku J Exp Med 2015 Nov;237(3):157-62.
    doi: 10.1620/tjem.237.157pubmed: 26466520google scholar: lookup
  45. Basile M, Boivin S, Boutin A, Blois-Heulin C, Hausberger M, Lemasson A. Socially dependent auditory laterality in domestic horses (Equus caballus).. Anim Cogn 2009 Jul;12(4):611-9.
    doi: 10.1007/s10071-009-0220-5pubmed: 19283416google scholar: lookup
  46. Ryhänen R, Närhi M, Puhakainen E, Hänninen O, Kontturi-Närhi V. Pseudocholinesterase activity and its origin in human oral fluid.. J Dent Res 1983 Jan;62(1):20-3.
    doi: 10.1177/00220345830620010501pubmed: 6337193google scholar: lookup
  47. Beerda B, Schilder M.B.H., Van Hooff J.A.R.A.M., De Vries H.W., Mol J.A. Behavioural, saliva cortisol and heart rate responses to different types of stimuli in dogs.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1998;58:365–381.
    doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(97)00145-7google scholar: lookup
  48. Aurich J, Wulf M, Ille N, Erber R, von Lewinski M, Palme R, Aurich C. Effects of season, age, sex, and housing on salivary cortisol concentrations in horses.. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2015 Jul;52:11-6.
    doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2015.01.003pubmed: 25700267google scholar: lookup
  49. Bosch JA, Veerman EC, de Geus EJ, Proctor GB. α-Amylase as a reliable and convenient measure of sympathetic activity: don't start salivating just yet!. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2011 May;36(4):449-53.
    doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.12.019pubmed: 21295411google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
  1. Adepu S, Lord M, Hugoh Z, Nyström S, Mattsson-Hulten L, Abrahamsson-Aurell K, Lützelschwab C, Skiöldebrand E. Salivary biglycan-neo-epitope-BGN(262): A novel surrogate biomarker for equine osteoarthritic sub-chondral bone sclerosis and to monitor the effect of short-term training and surface arena. Osteoarthr Cartil Open 2023 Jun;5(2):100354.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2023.100354pubmed: 36968250google scholar: lookup
  2. Hoagwood K, Vincent A, Acri M, Morrissey M, Seibel L, Guo F, Flores C, Seag D, Peth Pierce R, Horwitz S. Reducing Anxiety and Stress among Youth in a CBT-Based Equine-Assisted Adaptive Riding Program. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 20;12(19).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12192491pubmed: 36230232google scholar: lookup
  3. Topczewska J, Krupa W, Sokołowicz Z, Lechowska J. Does Experience Make Hucul Horses More Resistant to Stress? A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2021 Nov 24;11(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11123345pubmed: 34944127google scholar: lookup
  4. Kelly KJ, McD￮ LA, Mears K. The Effect of Human-Horse Interactions on Equine Behaviour, Physiology, and Welfare: A Scoping Review. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 24;11(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11102782pubmed: 34679804google scholar: lookup
  5. Vincent A, Peth-Pierce RM, Morrissey MA, Acri MC, Guo F, Seibel L, Hoagwood KE. Evaluation of a Modified Bit Device to Obtain Saliva Samples from Horses. Vet Sci 2021 Oct 15;8(10).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci8100232pubmed: 34679064google scholar: lookup
  6. Contreras-Aguilar MD, Vallejo-Mateo PJ, Lamy E, Escribano D, Cerón JJ, Tecles F, Rubio CP. Changes in Saliva Analytes in Dairy Cows during Peripartum: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 9;11(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11030749pubmed: 33803247google scholar: lookup
  7. Contreras-Aguilar MD, Lamy E, Escribano D, Cerón JJ, Tecles F, Quiles AJ, Hevia ML. Changes in Salivary Analytes of Horses Due to Circadian Rhythm and Season: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 24;10(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10091486pubmed: 32846911google scholar: lookup
  8. Cañadas-Vidal E, Muñoz-Prieto A, García-Martínez JD, Ceron JJ, Pardo-Marín L, Tvarijonaviciute A. Alpha-Amylase Activity in Feline Saliva: An Analytical Validation of an Automated Assay for Its Measurement and a Pilot Study on Its Changes Following Acute Stress and Due to Urinary Tract Pathologies. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 14;15(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15142074pubmed: 40723537google scholar: lookup
  9. Bazzano M, Marchegiani A, La Gualana F, Petriti B, Petrucelli M, Accorroni L, Laus F. Competition and stereotypic behavior in Thoroughbred horses: The value of saliva as a diagnostic marker of stress. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0311697.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311697pubmed: 39374248google scholar: lookup
  10. Bazzano M, Marchegiani A, La Gualana F, Petriti B, Spaterna A, Laus F. Salivary analysis to unveil the paradigma of stress of domestic horses reared in the wild. Sci Rep 2024 May 17;14(1):11266.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-62172-2pubmed: 38760454google scholar: lookup
  11. Gueguen L, Henry S, Delbos M, Lemasson A, Hausberger M. Selected Acoustic Frequencies Have a Positive Impact on Behavioural and Physiological Welfare Indicators in Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 20;13(18).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13182970pubmed: 37760370google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,928 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.