Browsing by Person "Nowak, Aurelia C."

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Fecal cortisol metabolites indicate increased stress levels in horses during breaking-in: a pilot study
(2025) Krieber, Julia; Nowak, Aurelia C.; Geissberger, Jakob; Illichmann, Oliver; Macho-Maschler, Sabine; Palme, Rupert; Dengler, Franziska; Krieber, Julia; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria, (A.C.N.);; Nowak, Aurelia C.; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria, (A.C.N.);; Geissberger, Jakob; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria, (A.C.N.);; Illichmann, Oliver; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria, (A.C.N.);; Macho-Maschler, Sabine; Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;; Palme, Rupert; Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;; Dengler, Franziska; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria, (A.C.N.);; Madigan, John
Sport horses are frequently exposed to situations that were identified as stressors, indicated by an increased cortisol release, which might impair animal welfare. However, while many studies deal with the impact of exercise, transport, and competition on stress in horses, little is known about the early phase of a horse’s sports career and studies investigating the stress level of young horses during breaking-in are limited. To compare stress levels in unridden horses, horses during breaking-in, and horses in training we collected fecal samples of young, unridden horses ( n = 28) and of horses in different training stages ( n = 13) and measured fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations. Our preliminary results showed that FCM concentrations of unridden horses were significantly lower than those of horses in training (Mann–Whitney rank sum test, p < 0.001). Particularly in the first year under the saddle FCMs were significantly higher than in unridden horses (one way ANOVA + post hoc Holm–Sidak test, p < 0.05), with a tendency for FCM levels to decrease with time in training. Furthermore, we observed that within the group of ridden horses there was a larger range of variability in FCM levels, suggesting individual variations regarding their ability to deal with (training-induced) stress. These results indicate that breaking-in is a stressful time for young horses, underlining the importance of carrying out the initial training as carefully as possible.
Investigating the interplay of stressors and health in horses through fecal cortisol metabolite analysis
(2025) Nowak, Aurelia C.; Macho-Maschler, Sabine; Biermann, Nora M.; Palme, Rupert; Dengler, Franziska; Nowak, Aurelia C.; Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Macho-Maschler, Sabine; Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Experimental Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Biermann, Nora M.; Department of Small Animals and Horses, Clinical Unit of Equine Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Palme, Rupert; Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Experimental Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Dengler, Franziska; Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Introduction: Horses are highly sensitive to stress, which can affect their wellbeing and lead to various health issues. Effective and objective stress assessment is therefore crucial for improving their care and management. The production of the glucocorticoid cortisol is increased in response to stressful stimuli and its metabolites can be measured non-invasively in feces. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the impact of different environmental and physiological stressors on fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations in horses, with a particular focus on the relationship between stress, health, and welfare. We hypothesized that increased FCM levels may be indicative of disease and thus improve early detection and subsequent intervention. Methods: Fresh fecal samples of N = 41 horses (20 geldings and 21 mares) from the same herd were collected once weekly for 1 year. Horses had been housed in the same stable for at least a month and were accustomed to the habitat, daily routine, and social groups. Environmental conditions, health data, and potentially stressful events were recorded. Fecal concentrations of 11,17-dioxoandrostanes were measured via 11-oxoetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay. Results: We showed stable baseline FCM concentrations of 6.3 ng/g feces (range 0.6–28.1 ng/g feces). During the summer months, median FCM concentrations increased significantly ( p < 0.05; One Way RM ANOVA), and this increase correlated with higher ambient temperatures ( p < 0.0001, adj r 2 = 0.669, Pearson Product Moment correlation). Additionally, other factors such as breed, coat color, and housing conditions influenced the FCM concentrations. Stressful events, such as riding exams and some painful conditions, also resulted in elevated FCM levels, although the magnitude of these responses varied across individual horses. However, not all diseases were associated with increased FCMs. Discussion: Our findings emphasize the complexity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in horses, suggesting that while high FCM levels can indicate stress, they may not be reliable biomarkers for early disease detection. Particularly in the light of climate change, the impact of heat stress in the summer months should not be neglected and measures to improve the housing conditions accordingly should become an essential part of equine health management.