Curriculum Vitae

Rafaela Sayuri Takeshita

Associate Professor, Kent State University (former doctoral student & Research Associate)

Research

I am interested in behavioral and physiological responses to social and environmental changes in nonhuman primates. My research involves non-invasive hormonal analysis and behavioral observation to:

  • Investigate the impact of environment on primate welfare and reproductive fitness
  • Monitor reproductive state and stress-related responses in captive and wild populations
  • Associate hormonal secretion pattern with the evolution of social systems in different primate species

Background

2013 – 2018       D.Sc. Primatology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University. Thesis: “Factors regulating steroid hormones in Japanese macaques and orangutans"

2011 – 2013       M.Sc. Primatology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University. Thesis: “Non-invasive analysis of adrenal hormones in female japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)”

2006 – 2011       B.Sc. Veterinary Medicine, Instituto da Saúde e Produção Animal, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia. Thesis: “Avaliação hematológica, hepatica e renal em Aotus azarai infulatus” (Hematological, hepatic, and renal evaluation in Aotus azarai infulatus).

Selected Publications

Takeshita RSC, Huffman MA, Bercovitch F, Kinoshita K, Huffman MA (2018). Beneficial effect of hot spring bathing on stress levels in Japanese macaques. Primates (online version). (DOI: 10.1007/s10329-018-0655-x)

 

Takeshita RSC, Huffman MA, Bercovitch F, Huffman MA, Kinoshita K (2018). Development and validation of an enzyme immunoassay for fecal dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (fDHEAS) in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). International Journal of Primatology (online version). (DOI: 10.1007/s10764-018-0026-x)

Takeshita RSC, Huffman MA, Kinoshita K, Bercovitch FB (2017). Effect of castration on social behavior and hormones in male Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Physiology & Behavior 181:43-50 (doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.09.006).

Takeshita RSC, Huffman MA, Mouri K, Shimizu K, Bercovitch FB (2016). Dead or alive? Predicting fetal loss in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) by fecal metabolites. Animal Reproduction Science 175: 33-38 (doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.10.006).

Garcia C, Bercovitch F, Furuichi T, Huffman MA, MacInstosh A, Rigaill L, Takeshita RSC, Shimizu K (2016). Ten years of collaboration between France and Japan - Studies on reproduction in Japanese macaques. Revue de primatologie 7 (doi: 10.4000/primatologie.2666) Mendonça RS, Takeshita RSC, Kanamori T, Kuze N, Hayashi M, Kinoshita K, Bernard H, Matsuzawa T (2016). Behavioral and physiological changes in a juvenile Bornean orangutan after a wildlife rescue. Global Ecology and Conservation 8: 116–122 (doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2016.08.004) Mayor P, Takeshita RSC, Coutinho LN, Sánchez N, Gálvez H, Ique C and Monteiro FOB (2015). Ovarian function in captive owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae and A. vociferans). Journal of Medical Primatology 44(4):187-93 (doi: 10.1111/jmp.12181) Mayor P, Takeshita RSC, Coutinho LN, Sánchez N, Gálvez H, Ique C, Ruiz JC and Monteiro FOB (2015). Functional morphology of the tubular genital organs in the female owl monkey (Aotus spp.). Journal of Medical Primatology 44(3):158-67 (doi: 10.1111/jmp.12169)

Takeshita RSC, Huffman MA, Bercovitch FB (2015). Non-invasive analysis of adrenal hormones in Japanese macaques. Saarbrücken, Germany: LAP Lambert Academic. 83p.

Takeshita RSC, Bercovitch FB, Huffman MA, Mouri K, Garcia C, Rigaill L, Shimizu K (2014). Environmental, biological, and social factors influencing fecal adrenal steroid concentrations in female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). American Journal of Primatology 76 (11):1084-1093.

Takeshita RSC, Monteiro FOB, Lins FLML, Andrade RS, Silva GA, Cardoso AMC, Pereira WLA, Rahal SC (2014). Aspectos histológicos dos ovários e testículos de macacos-da-noite (Aotus azarai infulatus - Kuhl, 1820). (Histology of the ovary and testis of owl monkeys (Aotus azarai infulatus - Kuhl, 1820). In: A Primatologia no Brasil. Curitiba: UFPR/SBPr, v.13, p. 303-314.

Takeshita RSC, Huffman MA, Bercovitch FB, Mouri K, Shimizu K (2013). The influence of age and season on fecal dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). General and Comparative Endocrinology 191: 39-43.

Silva GA, Monteiro FOB, Dias HLT, Cavalcante RO, Sampaio AIF, Conceição MEBAM, Takeshita RSC, Castro PHG, Feijó FMC, Rahal SC (2013). Qualitative analysis of preputial and vaginal bacterial microbiota in owl monkeys (Aotus azarai infulatus) raised in captivity. Journal of Medical Primatology 42: 71 – 78 (doi: 10.1111/jmp.12029) Lins FLML, Monteiro FOB, Takeshita RSC, Silva GA, Faturi C, Palha MDC, Monteiro MVB, Coutinho LN, Kugelmeier T, Castro PHG (2012). Renal Evaluation of (Aotus azarai infulatus) by Ultrasonography and Serum Chemistry Profile. American Journal of Primatology 74: 482 – 490 (doi: 10.1002/ajp.22006) Monteiro FOB, Coutinho LN, Takeshita RSC, Silva GA, Silva KSM, Whiteman CW, Castro, PHG, Muniz JAPC, Vicente WRR (2011). A protocol for gynecological and obstetric examination of owl monkeys using ultrasound. Revista de Ciências Agrárias (Belém) 54: 7 – 13 (doi:10.4322/rca.2011.032) Coutinho LN, Monteiro FOB, Takeshita RSC, Lins FLML, Silva GA, Faturi C, Castro PHG, Muniz JAPC, Kugelmeier T, Whiteman CW, Vicente WRR (2011). Effect of age and number of parturitions on uterine and ovarian variables in owl monkeys. Journal of Medical Primatology 40: 310 – 316 (doi/10.1111/j.1600-0684.2011.00476.x)

Takeshita RSC, Monteiro FOB, Lins FLML, Silva GA, Faturi C, Coutinho LN, Monteiro MVB, Kugelmeier T, Castro PHG, Muniz JAPC (2011). Hematological, hepatic, and renal evaluation in Aotus azarai infulatus. Journal of Medical Primatology 40: 104 – 110.

Press

2018

“Hot Springs Lower Stress in Japan’s Popular Bathing Monkeys”. ScienceTake, The New York Times. By James Gorman, 4th April 2018 https://nyti.ms/2Gvp3JB

“Famous Japanese Snow Monkeys Take Baths to Lower Stress”. National Geographic. 4th April 2018 https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/japanese-snow-monkey-macaques-bath-stress-spd/

“New research shows monkeys use hot baths to chill out”. BBC News, 4th April 2018 http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/43641645

“Even monkeys love a spa day: Macaques in Japan are spotted bathing in hot springs to relieve their stress”. Daily Mail, 4th April 2018 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5577167/Even-monkeys-need-spa-day-Japan-study-finds.html

“Monkeys relieve stress in hot springs”. NHK World, 4th April 2018 https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180404_06/

“Spa days for snow monkeys”. CTV News, Canada. 9 April 2018 https://www.facebook.com/CTVNewsChannel/videos/1750407578353899/

2017

“Snow Day! 8 Surprisingly Snow-Loving Animals”. National Geographic. By Liz Langley, January 2017 https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/01/animals-winter-snow-climate/

2016

"Spa para sa mga unggoy?" (Spa for monkeys). Born to be Wild, GMA Network, Philippines. 5 March 2016.

Contact

Email:

rtakeshi [at] kent [dot] edu

Phone:

330-672-3929