GAMBARAN KADAR KORTISOL SERUM KAMBING KACANG (Capra aegagrus hircus) JANTAN DAN BETINA SETELAH KEGIATAN ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY DI PONDOK PESANTREN AINUL YAKIN SPECIAL CHILDREN GUNUNGKIDUL YOGYAKARTA

Auryn Dora Aryanti, Prof. Dr. drh. Sarmin, M.P.

2026 | Skripsi | KEDOKTERAN HEWAN

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) merupakan kegiatan terapi yang melibatkan interaksi antara manusia dan hewan yang bermanfaat dalam meningkatkan kesejahteraan emosional serta mendukung kesehatan fisik pada manusia, namun interaksi tersebut berpotensi menimbulkan stres pada hewan yang terlibat. Hormon kortisol merupakan indikator fisiologis stres yang disekresikan melalui aktivasi hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis dan dapat diukur untuk menilai kesejahteraan hewan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menggambarkan kadar hormon kortisol serum kambing kacang (Capra aegagrus hircus) jantan dan betina setelah kegiatan Animal-Assisted Therapy di Pondok Pesantren Ainul Yakin Special Children, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta. Sampel darah diambil secara invasif melalui vena jugularis setelah interaksi terapi, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan metode Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Data yang diperoleh dianalisis secara deskriptif dan statistik menggunakan uji Independent Sample T-Test. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa rata-rata kadar kortisol serum kambing jantan (99,92 ± 48,22 ng/mL) lebih tinggi dibandingkan betina (86,67 ± 76,78 ng/mL). Variasi kadar kortisol dapat dipengaruhi oleh faktor individu, kondisi lingkungan, serta respon adaptasi terhadap stres selama interaksi terapi. Kadar hormon kortisol serum kambing jantan dan betina setelah kegiatan Animal-Assisted Therapy menunjukkan gambaran yang relatif serupa.

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a therapeutic activity involving interactions between humans and animals that can enhance emotional well-being and support physical health in humans; however, these interactions may also potentially induce stress in the animals involved. Cortisol hormone is a physiological indicator of stress secreted through the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and can be measured to assess animal welfare. This study aimed to describe serum cortisol levels between male and female kacang goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) after Animal-Assisted Therapy at Pondok Pesantren Ainul Yakin Special Children, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta. Blood samples were collected invasively through the jugular vein after therapy interactions and subsequently analyzed using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The obtained data were analyzed descriptively and statistically using the Independent Sample T-Test. The results showed that the mean serum cortisol level in male goats (99.92 ± 48.22 ng/mL) was higher than female goats (86.67 ± 76.78 ng/mL). Variations in cortisol levels may be influenced by individual factors, environmental conditions, and adaptive responses to stress during therapeutic interactions. The serum cortisol levels of male and female goats after Animal-Assisted Therapy activities showed relatively similar patterns.

Kata Kunci : Animal-Assisted Therapy, ELISA, kambing kacang, kortisol, stres