Hing Stephanie, Currie Andrew, Broomfield Steven, Keatley Sarah, Jones Krista, Thompson R C Andrew, Narayan Edward, Godfrey Stephanie S
Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2016 Jun;46:32-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2016.04.005. Epub 2016 Apr 14.
Understanding immune function is critical to conserving wildlife in view of infectious disease threats, particularly in threatened species vulnerable to stress, immunocompromise and infection. However, few studies examine stress, immune function and infection in wildlife. We used a flow cytometry protocol developed for human infants to assess phagocytosis, a key component of innate immunity, in a critically endangered marsupial, the woylie (Bettongia penicillata). The effects of stress physiology and Trypanosoma infection on phagocytosis were investigated. Blood and faecal samples were collected from woylies in a captive facility over three months. Trypanosoma status was determined using PCR. Faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) were quantified by enzyme-immunoassay. Mean phagocytosis measured was >90%. An interaction between sex and FCM influenced the percentage of phagocytosing leukocytes, possibly reflecting the influence of sex hormones and glucocorticoids. An interaction between Trypanosoma status and FCM influenced phagocytosis index, suggesting that stress physiology and infection status influence innate immunity.
鉴于传染病威胁，了解免疫功能对于保护野生动物至关重要，尤其是对于那些易受压力、免疫功能低下和感染影响的濒危物种。然而，很少有研究考察野生动物的压力、免疫功能和感染情况。我们使用一种为人类婴儿开发的流式细胞术方案，来评估一种极度濒危的有袋动物——毛尾袋小鼠（Bettongia penicillata）的吞噬作用，这是先天免疫的一个关键组成部分。我们研究了应激生理学和锥虫感染对吞噬作用的影响。在三个月的时间里，从一个圈养设施中的毛尾袋小鼠身上采集血液和粪便样本。使用聚合酶链反应（PCR）确定锥虫感染状态。通过酶免疫测定法定量粪便皮质醇代谢物（FCM）。测得的平均吞噬率>90%。性别与FCM之间的相互作用影响了吞噬白细胞的百分比，这可能反映了性激素和糖皮质激素的影响。锥虫感染状态与FCM之间的相互作用影响了吞噬指数，表明应激生理学和感染状态会影响先天免疫。
