Variations of Fecal Cortisol and IgA Levels with Reproductive Status in Wild Taihangshan Macaque (Macaca mulatta tcheliensis)

Fecal cortisol has been suggested an indicator of preceding physiological stress, while the secretory IgA acts as the first defense against pathogens, viruses and bacteria in animals. Fresh fecal samples of adult Taihangshan macaques (Macaca mulatta tcheliensis) were collected during mating and nonmating periods, respectively, to understand the influences of mating status on physiological condition of wild macaques, through variation in fecal cortisol and IgA levels. The results showed that. (1) mean concentration of fecal cortisol in mating period (AM: 1751.12 & PLUSMN; 199.16 ng/g; AF: 1366.38 & PLUSMN; 117.85 ng/g) were significant higher than that in non-mating period (AM: 705.97 & PLUSMN; 82.86 ng/g; AF: 699.51 & PLUSMN; 56.06 ng/g). (2) there was significant difference in fecal IgA levels between mating and non-mating periods in AF, but not in AM. (3) there were obvious negative correlations between fecal cortisol and IgA levels both in AM (P = 0.04) and AF (P = 0.01) in mating period, but not in non-mating period (AM: P = 0.19; AF: P = 0.21). We concluded that mating-related stress influences not only stress hormone level but also immunological response of adult Taihangshan macaques, and that the stress-linked immunosuppression hypothesis was supported in mating period.