02231nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260007000042653002600112653002300138653002000161653003100181653001100212100001400223700001700237700002200254700001600276700001500292700001400307245011400321490000800435520153800443022000801981       2020                            d  c01/2020bSchlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KGaHannover10abiological validation10aenzyme immunoassay10afaecal analysis10aglucocorticoid metabolites10astress1 aM Volfova1 aZ Machovcova1 aF Schwarzenberger1 aE Voslarova1 aI Bedanova1 aV Vecerek00aNon-invasive assessment of adrenocortical activity as a measure of stress in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta)0 v1333 aThe non-invasive assessment of adrenocortical activity by measuring faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) in faeces is currently a widely used method, especially in exotic animals. The aim of our study was to biologically validate the suitability of six different enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) to quantify changes in FGM concentrations after a known strong stress stimulus (capture, sedation, blood collection for serological examination and tuberculination) in ring-tailed lemurs (<i>Lemur catta</i>). Faecal samples were collected from six animals (four males and two females) twice daily spanning from two days before until three days after the exposure to the stress stimulus. The faecal samples obtained were extracted and the supernatants were measured for immunoreactive FGM concentrations using six different EIAs, namely cortisol, corticosterone, 11-oxoaetiocholanolone I, 11-oxoaetiocholanolone II, 11β-hydroxyaetiocholanolone and 5α-pregnane-3β,11β,21-triol-20-one EIA. The baseline levels, peak levels (absolute concentration and percentage increase), the duration of the peak and lag time of the peak were calculated and statistically evaluated. The FGM concentrations started to increase on average 23 hours after the exposure to the stress stimulus and returned to pre-stress levels on average within 36 hours. Our results suggest that the two group-specific 11-oxoaetiocholanolone EIAs and the 11β-hydroxyaetiocholanolone assay are generally suitable for the monitoring of stress response in ring-tailed lemurs.  a133