Noninvasive Study Of Steroid Hormone And Immunoglobulin In Captive Musk Deer

Forest musk deer(Moschus berezovskii), endangered (CITES:Appendix II) and listed in the national Class I of protected wild animals in China, is of high medicinal value. Noninvasive sampling and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used in this study to determine the indices of reproductive physiology, physiological stress and immunophysiology. The aim was to explore the establishment of feasible noninvasive research approach, to investigate the survival status of forest musk deer, and to provide scientific basis for the forest musk deer breeding industry. The sample was collected in Shaanxi Wu Liangshan Forest Musk Deer Breeding Center collecting fecal sample and determination was done in lab during2009to2010. The main results are as follows,1. By examining the stability of fecal steroid metabolites from captive forest musk deer at ambient temperature (20℃) by three methods of treatment. It was found the effect of storage on steroid concentrations by non-invasive method. The result indicates that fecal progesterone levels rises sharply at20℃after48h; the fecal oestradiol, testosterone and cortisol levels significantly change after18h. Compared to0.9%antibiotics methods, methanol preservation is a better way to save fecal steroids hormones. However, preservation of different hormones at different times with methanol, Progesterone, cortisol and testosterone keeps the active components consistent no longer than one month, two weeks and10days, respectively. And oestradiol can keep the active components for two months.2. Females were in higher stress states during lactation (postpartum2-4weeks) when cubs lay in the nest. Likewise, stress increase was shown on males in May during feed changes from dry to fresh leaves. This suggests that the breeding and management should been strengthened and stimuli such as disturbance and the like should be minimized When male and female musk deer are at the higher levels of stress physiological state. 3. Fecal IgG and IgM didn’t change with the season and IgA concentration was at the highest level in June. This result indicated that the total immunity represented by IgG and the total intensity of infection represented by IgM didn’t change with the season. Meanwhile, intestinal mucosal immunity represented by IgA was corresponding with the rising antigen during early summer and the first stage of feeding greenfeed, along with it microbial species and number also rising. The rising IgA level in this period was the results of digestive tract of musk deer adapting to environmental microbial. It shows that the transition from spring to summer is the important period for forest musk deer management and more attention should be paid to forage, water and sanitary condition of colony house.4. The changes of Fecal IgG and IgM of the young musk deer were grouped into three stages. The level of fecal IgG and IgM was gradually rising at the first stage. At the second stage, the end of mother milk suck and feeding partly on fresh leaves during this stage, the level of fecal IgG and IgM declined. Level went back to a higher level at the third stage. At this time, young deer’s immune system were preliminarily established and maintained at a stable state gradually. The fecal IgA content of young musk deer is maintained at a stable level2～21week after birth.5. Fecal IgG content between captive young and mother musk deer presented a significant negative correlation in2～21weeks after birth. It indicated that the main nutrient and immune ability was from mother’s milk during lactation period. Since then, IgG content declined obviously with quantity of suck milk decrease. Meanwhile, Fawn’s own immune system gradually established and perfected and fecal IgG value began to rise again in the16weeks and reached the highest and became stable until the18th weeks. It indicates that the young deer its own immune system is basically formed and can live independently. Fecal IgA and IgM content between captivity of young and mother musk deer has no significant correlation in2～21weeks after birth.This study indicates that noninvasive sampling can be used for monitoring the reproduction status, stress physiology and immunophysiology and the noninvasive feces sampling can be an effective sampling method to monitor the physiology status and living status of the forest musk deer.