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Prüter H, Franz M, Auls S, Czirják GÁ, Greben O, Greenwood AD, Lisitsyna O, Syrota Y, Sitko J, Krone O. Chronic lead intoxication decreases intestinal helminth species richness and infection intensity in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 644:151-160. [PMID: 29981515 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) pollution of aquatic habitats is a known threat to vertebrate health. Depending on Pb dosage, resulting symptoms can be chronic (sublethal) or acute (lethal). While acute exposure results in death of the animal, chronic sublethal exposure can also have consequences, reproduction, antioxidant defense and immunity being the most affected traits. While a great deal is known about Pb intoxication on avian health, relatively little is known about how intoxication impacts parasites dependent on their avian hosts. The effect of Pb on intestinal helminth species richness and infection intensity was investigated in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos, n = 100) from German waters. Coracoid bones were used to measure chronic Pb exposure. Intestinal helminths were characterized morphologically. Molecular approaches were also applied to identify poorly morphologically preserved parasites to obtain sequence data (cox1 gene) for species identification and future parasitological studies. Parasite species richness and infection intensity was found to be significantly lower in birds with higher chronic Pb levels suggesting both host and parasites respond to Pb exposure. Altered immune modulation in the avian host may be the underlying mechanisms of Pb triggered decrease of parasites. However, it also likely reflects differences in the susceptibility of different helminths to Pb. Cestode and acanthocephala species richness were particularly impacted by Pb exposure. We conclude that, Pb intoxication may both negatively impact avian host and parasite diversity in aquatic habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Prüter
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Wildlife Diseases, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Mathias Franz
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Wildlife Diseases, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Auls
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Wildlife Diseases, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Wildlife Diseases, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Oksana Greben
- National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Vul. B. Khmelnytskogo, 15, 01030 Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Alex D Greenwood
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Wildlife Diseases, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Olga Lisitsyna
- National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Vul. B. Khmelnytskogo, 15, 01030 Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Yaroslav Syrota
- National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Vul. B. Khmelnytskogo, 15, 01030 Kiev, Ukraine; Kyiv Zoological Park of National Importance, prosp. Peremohy, 32, Kyiv 04116, Ukraine
| | - Jilji Sitko
- Komenský Museum, Horní nám. 7, 750 11 Přerov 2, Czech Republic
| | - Oliver Krone
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Wildlife Diseases, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
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Palacios MG, D'Amico VL, Bertellotti M. Ecotourism effects on health and immunity of Magellanic penguins at two reproductive colonies with disparate touristic regimes and population trends. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 6:coy060. [PMID: 30464841 PMCID: PMC6233856 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Negative effects of ecotourism on wildlife are rising worldwide. Conservation physiology can play a major role in protecting wildlife by providing early alerts on changes in the status of individuals exposed to tourist activities. We measured an integrated set of immune and health-state indices to evaluate the effects of ecotourism on Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). We studied two reproductive colonies that differed in the intensity of tourism and population trends: Punta Tombo (higher tourism intensity, declining population) and San Lorenzo (lower tourism intensity, growing population). Within each colony, we compared individuals from an area that was exposed to tourists and a control area where tourism was excluded. Adult penguins exposed to tourism at Punta Tombo, but not at San Lorenzo, showed physiological alterations indicative of chronic stress (higher heterophil to lymphocyte ratios) and parasitic infection (elevated heterophil and eosinophil counts). Penguin chicks exposed to tourism at Punta Tombo, but not at San Lorenzo, also showed physiological alterations indicative of poor immune and general-health condition: lower humoral innate immunity, haematocrit, and glucose levels and higher inflammatory responses likely due to increased prevalence of fleas. Our results indicate that individuals of a declining population exposed to high levels of tourism express physiological indicators of chronic stress and poor health that could make adults and juveniles vulnerable to disease. These effects are expressed despite a long history of exposure and behavioural habituation to human visitation. In contrast, individuals of a growing population exposed to more recent and lower levels of tourism showed no effect. Our study demonstrates how a diverse physiological toolkit within a conservation physiology approach can provide important information for a better comprehension of anthropogenic effects on wild animals in our changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Palacios
- Applied Ecophysiology Group, Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CESIMAR-CONICET), Boulevard 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Verónica L D'Amico
- Applied Ecophysiology Group, Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CESIMAR-CONICET), Boulevard 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Bertellotti
- Applied Ecophysiology Group, Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CESIMAR-CONICET), Boulevard 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
- Department of Production, Environment and Sustainable Development, University of Chubut, Alem 1573 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
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D’Amico V, Palacios M, Bertellotti M. Antihelminthic treatment alters cellular but not humoral immune components in Magellanic Penguin ( Spheniscus magellanicus) chicks. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We evaluate whether helminth parasites affect both cellular and humoral components of the immune system of Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus (J.R. Forster, 1781)) chicks. We measured immune components after the administration of an antihelminthic drug to remove parasites. Cellular immune components included the complete white blood cell (WBC) count and the in vivo skin-swelling response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Humoral aspects assessed were the ability of plasma to agglutinate foreign particles and the bactericidal capacity of plasma. Antihelminthic treatment resulted in lower total WBC counts supporting the role of circulating leukocytes in fighting macroparasites. Deparasitized chicks showed a reduction in all types of leukocytes. Contrary to our expectation, deparasitized Magellanic Penguin chicks showed lower response to PHA injection than control chicks. The swelling response was positively correlated with body condition and with total WBC in circulation. We hypothesize that the specific helminth community naturally occurring in Magellanic Penguin chicks might have an overall immunostimulatory effect on the PHA response. Antihelminthic treatment did not alter the innate humoral immune parameters measured. Our results support the prediction that, given their relatively low costs of use and maintenance, innate humoral components would not be as affected by antihelminthic treatment as more costly cellular responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- V.L. D’Amico
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CONICET, Brown 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CONICET, Brown 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - M.G. Palacios
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CONICET, Brown 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CONICET, Brown 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - M. Bertellotti
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CONICET, Brown 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), CONICET, Brown 2915 (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
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