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 MDPI2022; 12(7); 841; doi: 10.3390/ani12070841

Serum Cortisol and Its Correlation with Leucocyte Profile and Circulating Lipids in Donkeys (Equus asinus).

Abstract: The values for basal serum cortisol concentrations of horses are available in many studies. However, there are limited data about serum cortisol in donkeys. The present study aimed to determine the baseline values for serum cortisol, to evaluate the influence of age and pregnancy on its levels, and to correlate its values with leucocyte profile, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides. Serum samples were collected from 97 healthy donkeys. Cortisol was analyzed by chemo-luminescent assay. The median and the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles of serum cortisol measured and calculated in all donkeys were 5.64, 3.40, and 10.54 µg/dL, respectively. Females (n.91) were divided into three groups: Group A (young), Group B (adult), and Group C (pregnant at the 9th−11th months). The effect of age and physiological status was investigated by the Mann−Whitney test. Group C showed significantly higher levels than Group B (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found in Group B with monocytes (r = 0.37, p < 0.01) and triglycerides (r = 0.30, p < 0.05), and in Group C with monocytes (r = 0.79, p < 0.01), basophils (r = 0.6, p < 0.05), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (r = −0.63, p < 0.05). Higher cortisol values related to late pregnancy are also found in this species. These preliminary results provide evidence for a relationship between cortisol and the immune system as well as cortisol and lipid metabolism modulated by age and pregnancy when parameters are within normal values.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2022-03-26 PubMed ID: 35405831PubMed Central: PMC8996940DOI: 10.3390/ani12070841Google 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 was aimed at understanding serum cortisol levels in donkeys, examining how those levels are impacted by factors such as age and pregnancy status, and also investigating the link between those levels and the animals’ leucocyte profile and blood lipid (cholesterol and triglycerides) levels.

Understanding the Research

  • The study focuses on serum cortisol, a hormone that’s typically released in response to stress, in donkeys. Unlike in horses, where plenty of data is available, little is known about cortisol levels in donkeys.
  • Serum samples were taken from 97 healthy donkeys to determine the baseline levels of cortisol. These were then analyzed using a chemiluminescent assay, a technique often used in molecular biology and medical diagnostics.
  • The donkeys were divided into three groups based on age (Group A being young, B being adults, C being pregnant in the 9th to 11th months). The study was interested in how age and pregnancy might affect cortisol levels.

Findings

  • Average cortisol levels in the donkeys were established with median values and the 2.5th and 97.5th percentile range. The mean was 5.64, with the range being 3.40 to 10.54 µg/dL.
  • Group C, the pregnant donkeys, had significantly higher cortisol levels than Group B, the adult donkeys. This suggests that pregnancy does influence cortisol levels in donkeys, which the study notes is also seen in horses.
  • Significant correlations were found between cortisol and monocytes (a type of white blood cell) as well as with triglycerides (a type of fat found in blood) in Group B, whereas in Group C, cortisol correlated significantly with monocytes, basophils (another type of white blood cell), and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (a measure of immune response). These connections underline a relationship between cortisol and the immune system and cortisol and lipid metabolism.

Implications of the Research

  • Data from this study bridges a gap in veterinary research, giving insights into cortisol values in donkeys that could contribute to improving animal welfare and medical care.
  • The noted correlations between cortisol levels, immune response markers, and lipid metabolism indicate a link between cortisol and these systems, providing leads for future research. This could delineate how cortisol mediates the interaction between stress, immune response, and energy regulation.
  • The significant effect of pregnancy on cortisol levels adds to scientific knowledge of pregnancy’s impact on hormonal makeup, broadening the understanding of gestational physiology in ungulates.

Cite This Article

APA
Alberghina D, Statelli A, Monteverde V, Vazzana I, Cascone G, Panzera M. (2022). Serum Cortisol and Its Correlation with Leucocyte Profile and Circulating Lipids in Donkeys (Equus asinus). Animals (Basel), 12(7), 841. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12070841

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 7
PII: 841

Researcher Affiliations

Alberghina, Daniela
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Via Palatucci sn, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Statelli, Alessandra
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Via Palatucci sn, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Monteverde, Vincenzo
  • Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy.
Vazzana, Irene
  • Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy.
Cascone, Giuseppe
  • Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Ragusa, Contrada Conservatore, 97100 Ragusa, Italy.
Panzera, Michele
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Via Palatucci sn, 98168 Messina, Italy.
  • Centro Universitario Specializzato per gli Interventi Assistiti con gli Animali, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 50 references
  1. Rushen J, de Passillé AM, von Keyserlingk MAG, Weary DM. The Welfare of Cattle. Springer New York, NY, USA: 2008. pp. 43–69.
  2. O'Connor TM, O'Halloran DJ, Shanahan F. The stress response and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: from molecule to melancholia.. QJM 2000 Jun;93(6):323-33.
    doi: 10.1093/qjmed/93.6.323pubmed: 10873181google scholar: lookup
  3. Hart KA, Barton MH. Adrenocortical insufficiency in horses and foals.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2011 Apr;27(1):19-34.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2010.12.005pmc: PMC3073730pubmed: 21392651google scholar: lookup
  4. Hartmann K, Koenen M, Schauer S, Wittig-Blaich S, Ahmad M, Baschant U, Tuckermann JP. Molecular Actions of Glucocorticoids in Cartilage and Bone During Health, Disease, and Steroid Therapy.. Physiol Rev 2016 Apr;96(2):409-47.
    doi: 10.1152/physrev.00011.2015pubmed: 26842265google scholar: lookup
  5. Mormède P, Foury A, Terenina E, Knap PW. Breeding for robustness: the role of cortisol.. Animal 2011 Apr;5(5):651-7.
    doi: 10.1017/S1751731110002168pubmed: 22439987google scholar: lookup
  6. Pravosudov V.V. In: Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior. Breed M.D., Moore J., editors. Academic Press; Cambridge, MA, USA: 2010. pp. 429–437.
  7. Broom DM, Zanella AJ. Brain measures which tell us about animal welfare. Anim. Welf. 2004;13:S41–S45.
  8. Broom DM. Cortisol: Often not the best indicator of stress and poor welfare. Physiol. News 2017;107:30–32.
    doi: 10.36866/pn.107.30google scholar: lookup
  9. McEwen B.S., Sakai R.R., Spencer R.L. In: Hormonally-Induced Changes in Mind and Brain. Schulkin J., editor. Academic Press; Cambridge, MA, USA: 1993. pp. 157–189.
  10. McEwen BS. What Is the Confusion With Cortisol?. Chronic Stress (Thousand Oaks) 2019 Jan-Dec;3.
    doi: 10.1177/2470547019833647pmc: PMC6788742pubmed: 31608312google scholar: lookup
  11. Gehlen H, Schwarz B, Bartmann C, Gernhardt J, Stöckle SD. Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction and Metabolic Syndrome in Donkeys.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 8;10(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10122335pmc: PMC7763272pubmed: 33302557google scholar: lookup
  12. Dai F, Dalla Costa E, Murray LM, Canali E, Minero M. Welfare Conditions of Donkeys in Europe: Initial Outcomes from On-Farm Assessment.. Animals (Basel) 2016 Jan 8;6(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ani6010005pmc: PMC4730122pubmed: 26761034google scholar: lookup
  13. Panzera M, Alberghina D, Statelli A. Ethological and Physiological Parameters Assessment in Donkeys Used in Animal Assisted Interventions.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 13;10(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10101867pmc: PMC7602119pubmed: 33066258google scholar: lookup
  14. Burden F, Thiemann A. Donkeys are different. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2015;35:376–382.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2015.03.005google scholar: lookup
  15. Smiet E, Van Dierendonck MC, Sleutjens J, Menheere PP, van Breda E, de Boer D, Back W, Wijnberg ID, van der Kolk JH. Effect of different head and neck positions on behaviour, heart rate variability and cortisol levels in lunged Royal Dutch Sport horses.. Vet J 2014 Oct;202(1):26-32.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.07.005pubmed: 25127376google scholar: lookup
  16. Zuluaga AM, Martínez JR. Serum cortisol concentration in the Colombian creole horse. Rev. Colomb. Cienc. Pecu. 2017;30:231–238.
    doi: 10.17533/udea.rccp.v30n3a06google scholar: lookup
  17. Douglas R. Circadian cortisol rhythmicity and equine cushing’s-like disease. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 1999;19:684–753.
    doi: 10.1016/S0737-0806(99)80111-7google scholar: lookup
  18. Dugat SL, Taylor TS, Matthews NS, Gold JR. Values for triglycerides, insulin, cortisol and ACTH in a herd of normal donkeys. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2010;30:141–144.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2010.01.054google scholar: lookup
  19. Pearson RA, Vall E. Performance and management of draught animals in agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa: a review.. Trop Anim Health Prod 1998 Oct;30(5):309-24.
    doi: 10.1023/A:1005059308088pubmed: 9881437google scholar: lookup
  20. Forhead AJ, Smart D, Smith RF, Dobson H. Transport-induced stress responses in fed and fasted donkeys.. Res Vet Sci 1995 Mar;58(2):144-51.
    doi: 10.1016/0034-5288(95)90068-3pubmed: 7761693google scholar: lookup
  21. Zhao F, Jiang G, Ji C, Zhang Z, Gao W, Feng P, Li H, Li M, Liu H, Liu G, Magalhaes HB, Li J. Effects of long-distance transportation on blood constituents and composition of the nasal microbiota in healthy donkeys.. BMC Vet Res 2020 Sep 15;16(1):338.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02563-5pmc: PMC7493398pubmed: 32933535google scholar: lookup
  22. Jiang G, Zhang X, Gao W, Ji C, Wang Y, Feng P, Feng Y, Zhang Z, Li L, Zhao F. Transport stress affects the fecal microbiota in healthy donkeys.. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2449-2457.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16235pmc: PMC8478045pubmed: 34331476google scholar: lookup
  23. Fazio E, Fragalà S, Ferlazzo A, Cravana C, Torrisi K, Medica P. Progesterone, estradiol-17β, cortisol, and hematological profile during the estrous cycle of lactating jennies: Preliminary and comparative observations. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2017;56:26–34.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2017.04.010google scholar: lookup
  24. Burden FA, Du Toit N, Hazell-Smith E, Trawford AF. Hyperlipemia in a population of aged donkeys: description, prevalence, and potential risk factors.. J Vet Intern Med 2011 Nov-Dec;25(6):1420-5.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00798.xpubmed: 22092637google scholar: lookup
  25. Reid SW, Mohammed HO. Survival analysis approach to risk factors associated with hyperlipemia in donkeys.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996 Oct 15;209(8):1449-52.
    pubmed: 8870744
  26. Burden FA, Hazell-Smith E, Mulugeta G, Patrick V, Trawford R, Brownlie HWB. Reference intervals for biochemical and haematological parameters in mature domestic donkeys (Equus asinus) in the UK. Equine Vet. Educ. 2016;28:134–139.
    doi: 10.1111/eve.12512google scholar: lookup
  27. Haffner JC, Fecteau KA, Eiler H, Tserendorj T, Hoffman RM, Oliver JW. Blood steroid concentrations in domestic Mongolian horses.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2010 Jul;22(4):537-43.
    doi: 10.1177/104063871002200407pubmed: 20622223google scholar: lookup
  28. Place NJ, McGowan CM, Lamb SV, Schanbacher BJ, McGowan T, Walsh DM. Seasonal variation in serum concentrations of selected metabolic hormones in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2010 May-Jun;24(3):650-4.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0500.xpubmed: 20384949google scholar: lookup
  29. Gehlen H, Twickel S, Stöckle S, Weber C, Bartmann CP. Diagnostic orientation values for ACTH and other parameters for clinically healthy donkeys and mules (insulin, triglycerides, glucose, fructosamines, and ɣ-GT).. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2020 Mar;104(2):679-689.
    doi: 10.1111/jpn.13279pubmed: 31900994google scholar: lookup
  30. Haritou SJ, Zylstra R, Ralli C, Turner S, Tortonese DJ. Seasonal changes in circadian peripheral plasma concentrations of melatonin, serotonin, dopamine and cortisol in aged horses with Cushing's disease under natural photoperiod.. J Neuroendocrinol 2008 Aug;20(8):988-96.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01751.xpmc: PMC2658710pubmed: 18540997google scholar: lookup
  31. Fazio E, Medica P, Galvano E, Cravana C, Ferlazzo A. Changes in the cortisol and some biochemical patterns of pregnant and barren jennies (Equus asinus). Vet. Arhiv. 2011;81:563–574.
  32. Mastorakos G, Ilias I. Maternal and fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes during pregnancy and postpartum.. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2003 Nov;997:136-49.
    doi: 10.1196/annals.1290.016pubmed: 14644820google scholar: lookup
  33. Dhabhar FS, Miller AH, McEwen BS, Spencer RL. Stress-induced changes in blood leukocyte distribution. Role of adrenal steroid hormones.. J Immunol 1996 Aug 15;157(4):1638-44.
    pubmed: 8759750
  34. Weiss DJ, Wardrop KJ. Schalm’S Veterinary Hematology. John Wiley & Sons Philadelphia, PA, USA: 2010. pp. 281–289.
  35. Brode S, Farahi N, Cowburn AS, Juss JK, Condliffe AM, Chilvers ER. Interleukin-5 inhibits glucocorticoid-mediated apoptosis in human eosinophils.. Thorax 2010 Dec;65(12):1116-7.
    doi: 10.1136/thx.2009.124909pubmed: 20805156google scholar: lookup
  36. Lee Y, Yi HS, Kim HR, Joung KH, Kang YE, Lee JH, Kim KS, Kim HJ, Ku BJ, Shong M. The Eosinophil Count Tends to Be Negatively Associated with Levels of Serum Glucose in Patients with Adrenal Cushing Syndrome.. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) 2017 Sep;32(3):353-359.
    doi: 10.3803/EnM.2017.32.3.353pmc: PMC5620032pubmed: 28956365google scholar: lookup
  37. Meyer DJ, Coles EH, Rich LJ. Veterinary Laboratory Medicine: Interpretation and Diagnosis. Saunders Philadelphia, PA, USA: 1992. pp. 27–41.
  38. van de Wouw M, Boehme M, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Monocyte mobilisation, microbiota & mental illness.. Brain Behav Immun 2019 Oct;81:74-91.
    pubmed: 31330299doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.07.019google scholar: lookup
  39. Schalk C, Pfaffinger B, Schmucker S, Weiler U, Stefanski V. Pregnancy-Associated Alterations of Peripheral Blood Immune Cell Numbers in Domestic Sows Are Modified by Social Rank.. Animals (Basel) 2019 Mar 23;9(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani9030112pmc: PMC6466169pubmed: 30909543google scholar: lookup
  40. Melgert BN, Spaans F, Borghuis T, Klok PA, Groen B, Bolt A, de Vos P, van Pampus MG, Wong TY, van Goor H, Bakker WW, Faas MM. Pregnancy and preeclampsia affect monocyte subsets in humans and rats.. PLoS One 2012;7(9):e45229.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045229pmc: PMC3441708pubmed: 23028864google scholar: lookup
  41. Hickman DL. Evaluation of the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio as an indicator of chronic distress in the laboratory mouse.. Lab Anim (NY) 2017 Jun 23;46(7):303-307.
    doi: 10.1038/laban.1298pmc: PMC7091828pubmed: 28644453google scholar: lookup
  42. Olaifa F, Ayo JO, Ambali SF, Rekwot PI. Hemato-biochemical responses to packing in donkeys administered ascorbic acid during the harmattan season.. J Vet Med Sci 2015 Feb;77(2):133-8.
    doi: 10.1292/jvms.12-0038pmc: PMC4363013pubmed: 23154452google scholar: lookup
  43. Davis AK, Maney DL. The use of glucocorticoid hormones or leucocyte profiles to measure stress in vertebrates: What’s the difference?. Methods Ecol. Evol. 2018;9:1556–1568.
    doi: 10.1111/2041-210X.13020google scholar: lookup
  44. Dyke SM, Carey BS, Kaminski ER. Effect of stress on basophil function in chronic idiopathic urticaria.. Clin Exp Allergy 2008 Jan;38(1):86-92.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2007.02864.xpubmed: 17976217google scholar: lookup
  45. Caldin M, Furlanello T, Solano-Gallego L, De Lorenzi D, Carli E, Tasca S, Lubas G. Reference ranges for haematology, biochemical profile and electrophoresis in a single herd of ragusana donkeys from Sicily (Italy). Comp. Clin. Pathol. 2005;14:5–12.
    doi: 10.1007/s00580-005-0544-8google scholar: lookup
  46. Cappai MG, Lunesu MG, Accioni F, Liscia M, Pusceddu M, Burrai L, Nieddu M, Dimauro C, Boatto G, Pinna W. Blood serum retinol levels in Asinara white donkeys reflect albinism-induced metabolic adaptation to photoperiod at Mediterranean latitudes.. Ecol Evol 2017 Jan;7(1):390-398.
    doi: 10.1002/ece3.2613pmc: PMC5216663pubmed: 28070301google scholar: lookup
  47. Trimboli F, De Amicis I, Di Loria A, Ceniti C, Carluccio A. Reference Ranges for Hematological and Biochemical Profile of Martina Franca Donkeys.. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:602984.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.602984pmc: PMC7775520pubmed: 33392295google scholar: lookup
  48. Santos JBF, Franco MM, Antunes RC, Guimaraes EC, Mundim AV. Serum biochemical profile of pega breed donkeys in the state of minas gerais. Pesqui. Vet. Bras. 2018;38:1225–1231.
    doi: 10.1590/1678-5150-pvb-5121google scholar: lookup
  49. Watson TD, Packard CJ, Shepherd J, Fowler JN. An investigation of the relationships between body condition and plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in 24 donkeys.. Vet Rec 1990 Nov 17;127(20):498-500.
    pubmed: 2275089
  50. Pawluski J, Jego P, Henry S, Bruchet A, Palme R, Coste C, Hausberger M. Low plasma cortisol and fecal cortisol metabolite measures as indicators of compromised welfare in domestic horses (Equus caballus).. PLoS One 2017;12(9):e0182257.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182257pmc: PMC5590897pubmed: 28886020google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Mariti C, Russo G, Mazzoni C, Borrelli C, Gori E, Habermaass V, Marchetti V. Factors Affecting Hair Cortisol Concentration in Domestic Dogs: A Focus on Factors Related to Dogs and Their Guardians. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 27;15(13).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15131901pubmed: 40646800google scholar: lookup
  2. Hussen J, Althagafi H. Serum cortisol level as marker of stress in camels: relationship with immunological profile. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1570564.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1570564pubmed: 40201077google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,658 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.