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Stress in wild-caught Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra): effects of a long-acting neuroleptic and time in captivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

J Fernández-Morán ,
D Saavedra ,
JL Ruiz De La Torre  and
X Manteca-Vilanova
J Fernández-Morán*
Affiliation:
Veterinary Service, Barcelona Zoo, Barcelona 08003, Spain
D Saavedra
Affiliation:
Fundació Territori i Paitsage, Provença 261-265, Barcelona 08008, Spain
JL Ruiz De La Torre
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
X Manteca-Vilanova
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: jfernandez@bsmsa.es
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Abstract

As part of a translocation project, 28 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) were captured from the wild and transported to the Barcelona Zoo for veterinary evaluation, quarantine and intraperitoneal implantation of telemetry devices. Eleven animals were injected with the long-acting neuroleptic (LAN) perphenazine enanthate at the time of capture and the remaining animals served as a control group. During their time in captivity, which averaged 23 days, all of the animals were bled three times. Haematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated, including red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), blood urea, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), albumin, and serum cortisol. No significant differences were found between treated and control otters except for monocyte count, which was higher in treated animals. Time after capture had an effect on many parameters. RBC and Hb decreased at first and then increased, while WBC and segmented neutrophils decreased over time. Most of the biochemical parameters considered to vary in relation to stress, including AST, ALT, CK, AP and LDH, decreased over time, suggesting that the stress responses of the animals decreased throughout the period of captivity. However, no significant change in serum cortisol levels was noted. The lack of effect of perphenazine treatment on haematological parameters should encourage further research on other stress indicators applicable to wild animals, such as behaviour or faecal cortisol concentration. Finally, the results obtained in this study suggest that, when captive conditions are adequate, keeping wild-caught animals in human care for a period of time prior to their release into the wild can be beneficial. However, further studies taking into account other welfare indicators would be useful.

Keywords

animal welfareEurasian otterlong-acting neurolepticLutra lutraperphenazinestress
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , May 2004 , pp. 143 - 149
Copyright
© 2004 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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