Cited by 100Animal Behavior and Welfare StudiesStress Responses and CortisolAnimal health and immunology

Linking stress and immunity: Immunoglobulin A as a non-invasive physiological biomarker in animal welfare studies

Staley, Molly, Conners, Melinda G., Hall, Katie, Miller, Lance J.·2018·Hormones and Behavior

Abstract

As the animal welfare community strives to empirically assess how care and management practices can help maintain or even enhance welfare, the development of tools for non-invasively measuring physiological biomarkers is essential. Of the suite of physiological biomarkers, Immunoglobulin A (IgA), particularly the secretory form (Secretory IgA or SIgA), is at the forefront because of its crucial role in mucosal immunity and links to physical health, stress, and overall psychological well-being. While interpretation of changes in SIgA concentrations on short time scales is complex, long-term SIgA patterns are consistent: conditions that create chronic stress lead to suppression of SIgA. In contrast, when welfare is enhanced, SIgA is predicted to stabilize at higher concentrations. In this review, we examine how SIgA concentrations are reflective of both physiological stress and immune function. We then review the literature associating SIgA concentrations with various metrics of animal welfare and provide detailed methodological considerations for SIgA monitoring. Overall, our aim is to provide an in-depth discussion regarding the value of SIgA as physiological biomarker to studies aiming to understand the links between stress and immunity.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.04.011

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Authors
Staley, M., Conners, M. G., Hall, K., & Miller, L. J.
Affiliations
Brookfield Zoo Chicago (US)
Corresponding author
Staley, Molly
Venue
Hormones and Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-06
Volume
102
Pages
55-68
ISSN
0018-506X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2801214371
Cited by
100
References
162
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8
FWCI
1.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal health and immunology
Keywords
secretory IgA, animal welfare, physiological stress, mucosal immunity, non-invasive biomarkers, chronic stress, immune function, welfare analysis
MeSH terms
Animals, Animal Welfare, Animals, Laboratory, Humans, Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin A, Secretory, Immunity, Stress, Physiological, Biomarkers, Immunity, Mucosal

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