Association Between the Levels of Stress Markers and the Onset of Kangaroo Disease (Lumpy Jaw Disease) in Captive Kangaroos

Abstract

Kangaroo disease (lumpy jaw disease; LJD) is a disease of the oral cavity in Macropodidae that may be caused by stress-related factors; however, detailed information about its pathogenesis is lacking. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated markers of stress in kangaroos with and without LJD to determine the factors that cause an LJD outbreak. We evaluated the oxidative stress value, antioxidant activity, and plasma cortisol concentration in blood samples. Additionally, we measured the cortisol concentration in saliva samples. The oxidative stress value and serum cortisol concentrations were statistically significantly different between the two groups, but the antioxidant activity and saliva cortisol concentrations did not differ significantly. Relatively large variations were observed for each value within individuals.