Oxidant/Antioxidant Equilibrium and Neurotransmitter Levels in Camelids Used for Circus Activities: A Preliminary Study

TL;DR

This study looked at how circus life affects the stress and emotional states of dromedaries, camels, and llamas by measuring their oxidative stress and neurotransmitter levels.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel approach to assessing animal welfare in circuses by analyzing species-specific oxidant/antioxidant and neurotransmitter profiles.

Findings

Dromedaries and llamas showed higher oxidative stress than camels.

Camels had greater antioxidant capacity compared to other species.

Dromedaries had higher dopamine levels than llamas, indicating greater emotional reactivity.

Abstract

This study examined the welfare of dromedaries, camels, and llamas under circus management by analyzing their emotional states and oxidant/antioxidant balance. Blood samples from five animals per species were tested for neurotransmitters and oxidative stress markers. Dromedaries and llamas showed higher oxidative stress (d-Roms) than camels, while camels had greater antioxidant capacity (BAP). Dromedaries also had more dopamine than llamas, suggesting greater emotional reactivity. These preliminary findings highlight species-specific differences in how circus environments may affect animals’ well-being and emphasize the need for further research.

The conditions of animals in captivity have long been a cause for concern, and for that reason should be carefully assessed. In circus activities, animals are used for different purposes, but their needs are different due to their physiological peculiarities. The aim of the present study was to investigate the emotional state and the oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium in dromedaries, camels, and llamas subjected to circus management. Blood samples were taken from five specimens of three different species in order to assess the serum concentrations of noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, and the plasma levels of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-Roms) and the animals’ biological antioxidant potential (BAP). The results showed higher levels of d-Roms in dromedaries and llamas than camels and higher concentrations of BAP in camels than other species. Finally, dromedaries showed a higher dopamine concentration than llamas. This preliminary study suggested that some of the species investigated here are more influenced by the circus environment, especially on a relational level. Although the results collected in this study are preliminary and need to be supported by further, more comprehensive investigations from the point of view of welfare assessment, it could be hypothesized that the emotional state and the oxidant/antioxidant balance is very important to assess in an environment such as the circus.

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