1
|
Bruck JN. The Cetacean Sanctuary: A Sea of Unknowns. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:335. [PMID: 38275795 PMCID: PMC10812626 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Housing cetaceans in netted sea pens is not new and is common for many accredited managed-care facilities. Hence, the distinction between sanctuary and sea pen is more about the philosophies of those who run these sanctuary facilities, the effects of these philosophies on the animals' welfare, and how proponents of these sanctuaries fund the care of these animals. Here, I consider what plans exist for cetacean sanctuaries and discuss the caveats and challenges associated with this form of activist-managed captivity. One goal for stakeholders should be to disregard the emotional connotations of the word "sanctuary" and explore these proposals objectively with the best interest of the animals in mind. Another focus should be related to gauging the public's understanding of proposed welfare benefits to determine if long-term supporters of donation-based sanctuary models will likely see their expectations met as NGOs and their government partners consider moving forward with cetacean sanctuary experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason N Bruck
- Department of Biology, Stephen F. Austin University, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Reyes-Ramos CA, Ramírez-Jirano LJ, Bitzer-Quintero OK, Vázquez-Medina JP, Gaxiola-Robles R, Zenteno-Savín T. Dolphin leukocytes exhibit an attenuated cytokine response and increase heme oxygenase activity upon exposure to lipopolysaccharides. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 281:111438. [PMID: 37119961 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Cetaceans exhibit physiological adaptations that allowed the transition to aquatic life, including a robust antioxidant defense system that prevents injury from repeated exposure to ischemia/reperfusion events associated with breath-hold diving. The signaling cascades that characterize ischemic inflammation in humans are well characterized. In contrast, cetaceans' molecular and biochemical mechanisms that confer tolerance to inflammatory events are poorly understood. Heme oxygenase (HO) is a cytoprotective protein with anti-inflammatory properties. HO catalyzes the first step in the oxidative degradation of heme. The inducible HO-1 isoform is regulated by various stimuli, including hypoxia, oxidant stress, and inflammatory cytokines. The objective of this study was to compare the response of HO-1 and cytokines to a proinflammatory challenge in leukocytes isolated from humans and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). We measured changes in HO activity and expression, and abundance and expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) in leukocytes treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 and 48 h. HO activity increased (p < 0.05) in dolphin (48 h) but not human cells. TNF-α expression increased in human (24 h, 48 h), but not dolphin cells following LPS stimulation. LPS-induced cytokine expression was lower in dolphin than in human leukocytes, suggesting a blunted cytokine response in bottlenose dolphin leukocytes treated with LPS. Results suggest species-specific regulation of inflammatory cytokines in leukocytes treated with LPS, which may lead to differential responses to a pro-inflammatory challenge between marine and terrestrial mammals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Reyes-Ramos
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur C.P. 23096, Mexico
| | - Luis Javier Ramírez-Jirano
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Sierra Mojada 800, Independencia Oriente, 44340 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Oscar Kurt Bitzer-Quintero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Sierra Mojada 800, Independencia Oriente, 44340 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - José Pablo Vázquez-Medina
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 3040 Valley Life Sciences Building #3140, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA
| | - Ramón Gaxiola-Robles
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur C.P. 23096, Mexico; Hospital General de Zona No.1, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, 5 de Febrero y Héroes de la Independencia, Centro, La Paz, Baja California Sur C.P. 23000, Mexico
| | - Tania Zenteno-Savín
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur C.P. 23096, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lucore JM, Marshall AJ, Brosnan SF, Benítez ME. Validating Urinary Neopterin as a Biomarker of Immune Response in Captive and Wild Capuchin Monkeys. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:918036. [PMID: 35909690 PMCID: PMC9326447 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.918036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive health monitoring is advantageous for wild and captive primate populations because it reduces the need for traditional invasive techniques (i.e., anesthetization) that can be stressful and potentially harmful for individuals. The biomarker neopterin is an emerging tool in primatology to measure immune activation and immunosenescence, however, most neopterin studies have focused on catarrhine species with little comparative work examining neopterin and health in platyrrhines. To address this gap, we validated a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure urinary neopterin in two types of capuchin monkeys, a wild population of white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator) and a socially housed captive colony of tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella). We analytically validated methods for measuring urinary neopterin in two capuchin populations and demonstrated that two commonly-used methods to control for urine concentration-creatinine and specific gravity (SG)-produced highly concordant results. We also biologically validated these methods by examining variation in neopterin levels based on environment (captive and wild) and age, and changes in levels associated with immune-response. We found that neopterin increased after immune perturbation (rabies vaccine booster), varied by environmental condition, and mirrored expected trends in immune system ontogeny. Our results improve understanding of the innate immune system in platyrrhine species and suggest neopterin may be useful for non-invasive health monitoring in both captive and wild primates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M. Lucore
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Capuchinos de Taboga Research Project, Taboga Forest Reserve, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
| | - Andrew J. Marshall
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Program in the Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sarah F. Brosnan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Marcela E. Benítez
- Capuchinos de Taboga Research Project, Taboga Forest Reserve, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
- Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Richard JT, Schultz K, Goertz CEC, Hobbs RC, Romano TA, Sartini BL. Evaluating beluga ( Delphinapterus leucas) blow samples as a potential diagnostic for immune function gene expression within the respiratory system. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coac045. [PMID: 35795014 PMCID: PMC9252111 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Evaluating respiratory health is important in the management of cetaceans, which are vulnerable to respiratory diseases. Quantifying the expression of genes related to immune function within the respiratory tract could be a valuable tool for directly assessing respiratory health. Blow (exhale) samples allow DNA analysis, and we hypothesized that RNA could also be isolated from blow samples for gene expression studies of immune function. We evaluated the potential to extract RNA from beluga blow samples and tested whether transcripts associated with immune function could be detected with endpoint polymerase chain reaction. A total of 54 blow samples were collected from clinically healthy aquarium belugas (n = 3), and 15 were collected from wild belugas temporarily restrained for health assessment in Bristol Bay, Alaska (n = 9). Although RNA yield varied widely (range, 0-265.2 ng; mean = 85.8; SD = 71.3), measurable RNA was extracted from 97% of the samples. Extracted RNA was assessed in 1-6 PCR reactions targeting housekeeping genes (Rpl8, Gapdh or ActB) or genes associated with immune function (TNFα, IL-12p40 or Cox-2). Fifty of the aquarium samples (93%) amplified at least one transcript; overall PCR success for housekeeping genes (96/110, 87%) and genes associated with immune function (90/104, 87%) were similarly high. Both RNA yield and overall PCR success (27%) were lower for wild beluga samples, which is most likely due to the reduced forcefulness of the exhale when compared with trained or free-swimming belugas. Overall, the high detection rate with PCR suggests measuring gene expression in blow samples could provide diagnostic information about immune responses within the respiratory tract. While further study is required to determine if quantitative gene expression data from blow samples is associated with disease states, the non-invasive nature of this approach may prove valuable for belugas, which face increasing anthropogenic disturbances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin T Richard
- Corresponding author: Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
| | - Krystle Schultz
- Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, 9 E Alumni Drive, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | | | - Roderick C Hobbs
- Retired from Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, F/AKC3, Seattle, WA 98115-6349, USA
| | - Tracy A Romano
- Mystic Aquarium, a Division of Sea Research Foundation, 55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355, USA
| | - Becky L Sartini
- Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, 9 E Alumni Drive, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Derous D, Kebke A, Fair PA, Styczynski M, Bossart GD, Douglas A, Lusseau D. Untargeted plasma metabolomic analysis of wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) indicate protein degradation when in poorer health. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2022; 42:100991. [PMID: 35512616 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2022.100991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cumulative exposure to sub-lethal anthropogenic stressors can affect the health and reproduction of coastal cetaceans and hence their population viability. To date, we do not have a clear understanding of the notion of health for cetaceans in an ecological context; that is, how health status affects the ability of individuals to survive and reproduce. Here, we make use of a unique health-monitoring programme of estuarine bottlenose dolphins in South Carolina and Florida to determine de novo changes in biological pathways, using untargeted plasma metabolomics, depending on the health status of individuals obtained from veterinary screening. We found that individuals that were in a poor health state had lower circulating amino acids pointing towards increased involvement of gluconeogenesis (i.e., new formation of glucose). More mechanistic work is needed to disentangle the interconnection between health and energy metabolism in cetaceans to mediate potential metabolic constraints they may face during periods of stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davina Derous
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
| | - Anna Kebke
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. https://twitter.com/AnnaKebke
| | - Patricia A Fair
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29412, United States
| | - Mark Styczynski
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - Gregory D Bossart
- Animal Health, Research and Conservation, Georgia Aquarium, NW Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alex Douglas
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. https://twitter.com/Scedacity
| | - David Lusseau
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Danish Technical University, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Meza Cerda MI, Gray R, Thomson PC, Butcher L, Simpson K, Cameron A, Marcus AD, Higgins DP. Developing Immune Profiles of Endangered Australian Sea Lion ( Neophoca cinerea) Pups Within the Context of Endemic Hookworm ( Uncinaria sanguinis) Infection. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:824584. [PMID: 35529837 PMCID: PMC9069138 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.824584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a top predator, the endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) is a sentinel of ecosystem change, where population trends can reflect broader shifts in the marine environment. The population of this endemic pinniped was historically diminished by commercial sealing, and recovery has been slowed by fishery interactions, disease and, potentially, pollutants. Hookworm infects 100% of neonatal pups and has been identified as a contributor to population decline. Here, a multivariable approach using traditional serological and novel molecular tools such as qPCR and ddPCR was used to examine immune phenotypes of developing Australian sea lion pups infected with the endemic hookworm (Uncinaria sanguinis) from two South Australian colonies. Results show changing immunophenotypes throughout the patent period of infection represented by pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6), IgG and acute-phase proteins. Although cytokines may prove useful as markers of resistance, in this study, IL-6 is determined to be an early biomarker of inflammation in Australian sea lion pups, excluding the alternative hypothesis. Additionally, immunological differences between animals from high- and low-intensity hookworm seasons, as well as ivermectin-treated animals, indicate hookworm infection modulation of the host immune response, as evidenced by a lower IL-6 mRNA expression in the non-treated groups. This study of the Australian sea lion is an example of an ecoimmunological approach to disease investigation, which can be applied to evaluate the impact of environmental and anthropogenic factors on susceptibility to infectious diseases in free-ranging species
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María-Ignacia Meza Cerda
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rachael Gray
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter C Thomson
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Loreena Butcher
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kelly Simpson
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Abby Cameron
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alan D Marcus
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Damien P Higgins
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Integrated proteomics and metabolomics reveal the variations in the physiological state of spotted seal (Phoca largha) pups following artificial rescue. Genomics 2022; 114:110282. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
8
|
Anderson KA, Schaefer AM, Rice CD. Quantifying circulating antibody activities against the emerging environmental pathogen, Streptococcus agalactiae, in wild captured bull sharks, spotted eagle rays, bottlenose dolphins, and loggerhead turtles. FISH AND SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 2:100024. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsirep.2021.100024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
|
9
|
Houser DS, Champagne CD, Wasser SK, Booth RK, Romano T, Crocker DE. Influence of season, age, sex, and time of day on the endocrine profile of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 313:113889. [PMID: 34425086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding baseline hormone levels, the magnitude of intra-individual variability, and their variation as a function of life history is difficult in toothed whales (e.g. dolphins and porpoises) because of the effects of capture stress. To determine the endocrine profile of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) as a function of season, time of day (TOD), age, sex, and reproductive status, blood corticosteroids, thyroid hormones, and catecholamines were repeatedly measured in a managed-care population exposed to ambient light and water temperatures of San Diego Bay. Additionally, fecal hormone metabolites were assessed for cortisol, aldosterone, and triiodothyronine. Samples were collected at two to four-week intervals over a period of two years, and multiple times within a day at monthly intervals over a year. Samples were collected through the voluntary participation of the dolphins in the blood draws and fecal collections in order to avoid the effects of handling stress. All serum hormones except aldosterone significantly varied with season and all serum hormones except total thyroxine significantly varied as a function of TOD. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites significantly correlated with circulating cortisol levels, and there was a significant seasonal effect on triiodothyronine fecal metabolites. Strong seasonal effects demonstrated complex interactions with age and sex suggesting that contextual information is critical to interpreting differences in endocrine profiles. Strong circadian patterns further suggest that sampling design is important to the interpretation of blood or fecal collections, particularly since diurnal changes in some serum hormone levels are similar to the magnitude of seasonal differences. Despite potential impacts of feeding schedules on diurnal patterns, managed care populations can provide important insights into seasonal and age-related endocrine changes in toothed whales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D S Houser
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA.
| | - C D Champagne
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | - S K Wasser
- Center for Conservation Biology, Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - R K Booth
- Center for Conservation Biology, Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - T Romano
- Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355, USA
| | - D E Crocker
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Of Whales and Genes: Unraveling the Physiological Response to Stressors in Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) at the Molecular Level. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg2040040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine mammals, now more than ever, are exposed to environmental and anthropogenic stressors. A better understanding of stress physiology in marine mammals is warranted in order to assist in conservation efforts. This study screened gene expression profiles (cytokines, stress-response markers) in blood samples collected opportunistically under controlled conditions from aquarium belugas during transport and introduction to a novel environment (T/NEnv), participation in out-of-water examinations (OWE) and from wild belugas during live capture–release health assessments (WLCR). Quantitative-PCR was used to measure gene expression involved in physiological and immune responses at different time scales. Linear mixed models with repeated measures and pairwise comparisons were used for analysis. Overall, a generalized down-regulation of relative gene expression when compared to samples collected under behavioral control from aquarium whales or to pre-assessment samples of wild whales was observed, with genes IFNγ, IL2, TGFβ and Nr3c1 displaying the largest significant (p < 0.05) changes. Significant (p < 0.05) negative associations of inflammatory gene expression with norepinephrine suggest inhibitory effects of catecholamines on the inflammatory response. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of the physiological response to stressors at the molecular level in belugas, and the genes suggested here can further be utilized as additional tools in beluga health assessments and monitoring.
Collapse
|
11
|
Behringer V, Müller-Klein N, Strube C, Schülke O, Heistermann M, Ostner J. Responsiveness of fecal immunoglobulin A to HPA-axis activation limits its use for mucosal immunity assessment. Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23329. [PMID: 34554596 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of mucosal immunity as a component of animal health is an important aspect for the understanding of variation in host immunity, and its tradeoff against other life-history traits. We investigated immunoglobulin A (IgA), the major type of antibody associated with mucosal immunity, in relation to changes in parasitic burden following anthelminthic treatment in noninvasively collected fecal samples in a semi-free ranging group of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus). We measured IgA in 340 fecal samples of fourteen females and nine males. As IgA has been found to be responsive to stressors, we also related fecal IgA (fIgA) levels to fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) measured in the same samples as part of a previous study. We found a high variability within and between individual fIgA levels over time. Running generalized additive mixed models, we found that fIgA levels were higher in males than in females, but did not change in response to the anthelmintic treatment and the resulting reduction in worm burden. Instead, fIgA level changes were significantly correlated to changes in fGCM levels. Our findings indicate that due to the strong responsiveness of fIgA to HPA-axis activity, the measurement of fIgA may have certain limitations with respect to reflecting gastrointestinal parasitic burden. Moreover, the responsiveness of fIgA to stressors interferes with the interpretation of IgA levels in fecal samples as a measure of mucosal immunity, at least in our study population of the Barbary macaques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena Behringer
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nadine Müller-Klein
- Institute for Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Research Group Social Evolution in Primates, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Oliver Schülke
- Research Group Social Evolution in Primates, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Behavioral Ecology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julia Ostner
- Research Group Social Evolution in Primates, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Behavioral Ecology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Miller LJ, Lauderdale LK, Walsh MT, Bryant JL, Mitchell KA, Granger DA, Mellen JD. Reference intervals and values for fecal cortisol, aldosterone, and the ratio of cortisol to dehydroepiandrosterone metabolites in four species of cetaceans. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250331. [PMID: 34460862 PMCID: PMC8404979 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of the current study was to create reference intervals and values for several common and one potential novel physiological indicators of animal welfare for four species of cetaceans. The subjects included 189 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 27 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), eight Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and 13 beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) at Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and/or Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facilities. During two sampling time periods between July and November of 2018 and between January and April of 2019, fecal samples were collected weekly for five weeks from all animals. Samples were processed and analyzed using enzyme immunoassay for fecal cortisol, aldosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) metabolites. Linear mixed models were used to examine demographic and time factors impacting hormone metabolite concentrations. Age, sex, and time of year were all significant predictors for some of the models (p < 0.01). An iOS mobile application ZooPhysioTrak was created for easy access to species-specific reference intervals and values accounting for significant predictors. For facilities without access to this application, additional reference intervals and values were constructed without accounting for significant predictors. Information gained from this study and the use of the application can provide reference intervals and values to make informed management decisions for cetaceans in zoological facilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lance J. Miller
- Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research, Chicago Zoological Society–Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Lisa K. Lauderdale
- Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research, Chicago Zoological Society–Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Michael T. Walsh
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Jocelyn L. Bryant
- Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research, Chicago Zoological Society–Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Kevin A. Mitchell
- Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research, Chicago Zoological Society–Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Douglas A. Granger
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Jill D. Mellen
- Biology Department, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Nabi G, Robeck TR, Yujiang H, Tang B, Zheng J, Wang K, Wang D. Circulating concentrations of thyroid hormones and cortisol in wild and semi-natural Yangtze finless porpoise ( Neophocaena asiaeorientalis). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab034. [PMID: 35559363 PMCID: PMC8120013 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding about how environmental and biological variables may influence circulating thyroid and adrenal hormones in free-ranging cetaceans is limited. As such, we used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine concentrations of circulating cortisol and thyroid hormones (THs; tT3, tT4) in 132 Yangtze finless porpoises (YFPs) located in Poyang Lake, (PL, n = 92) and Tian-E-Zhou Oxbow reserve (TZO, n = 40). For overall hormone comparisons, animals were partitioned by age [juvenile and adult (male and non-pregnant, non-lactating female)], sex, season (winter or spring) and geographical location. Geographically, during winter, circulating THs were significantly higher in the PL versus TZO population. Seasonally, within PL, THs were significantly higher in the winter versus spring season. Animals were further binned into groups as follows: juvenile male (JM) and juvenile female (JF), adult male (AM), non-pregnant adult female, pregnant female and non-pregnant lactating female. Intra-group comparisons between locations showed a significant increase in JM THs at PL. Significant increases in THs during winter compared to spring were detected between JM and JF groups. Mean comparisons of cortisol within and between locations for each group identified a significant increase for TZO AM versus TZO pregnant female and JM and JF. Seasonally, in PL, only JF has significantly higher cortisol in winter versus spring. Finally, we established reference values of THs and cortisol for YFPs in different geographical locations. These references are important baselines from which the effects of environmental and biological variables on THs and cortisol may be evaluated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ghulam Nabi
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | | | - Hao Yujiang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Bin Tang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jinsong Zheng
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Kexiong Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Ding Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Meza Cerda MI, Gray R, Higgins DP. Cytokine RT-qPCR and ddPCR for immunological investigations of the endangered Australian sea lion ( Neophoca cinerea) and other mammals. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10306. [PMID: 33240637 PMCID: PMC7668205 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Measurement of cytokine gene expression by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is used widely to assess the immune system of animals and to identify biomarkers of disease, but its application is limited in wildlife species due to a lack of species-specific reagents. The free-ranging endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) experiences significant clinical disease and high pup mortality due to intestinal hookworm infection. Developing immunological tools specific to the species will aid in the assessment of drivers of disease and its impact in population demographics. This study describes the development and validation of cross-reactive RT-qPCR assays to measure five important cytokines involved in innate and Th1/Th2 responses (IL-6, TNFα, IFNγ, IL-4 and IL-10) in unstimulated blood samples from a range of different mammalian species including the Australian sea lion. All RT-qPCR assays efficiencies ranged between 87% (Ovis aries TNFα) and 111% (Bos taurus IL-10) and had strong linearity (R2). IL-4 and IFNγ gene expression for N. cinerea fell below the dynamic range (and therefore quantifiable limits) of RT-qPCR assays but were able to be quantified using the novel droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). This study delivers new immunological tools for eco-immunologists studying cytokine gene expression in wildlife species and is to our knowledge, the first cytokine ddPCR approach to be reported in a pinniped species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María-Ignacia Meza Cerda
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Rachael Gray
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Damien P Higgins
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
IMMUNOMEDIATOR GENE TRANSCRIPTION PROFILING IN BELUGA WHALE ( DELPHINAPTERUS LEUCAS) CLINICAL CASES. J Zoo Wildl Med 2020; 51:334-349. [PMID: 32549563 DOI: 10.1638/2018-0225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an unmet need for specific diagnostics of immune perturbations and inflammation in beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) clinical care. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has been used to measure immunomediator gene transcription in beluga whales. The study hypothesis was that a qPCR-based immunomediator assay would supplement routine clinical data with specific and sensitive information on immune status. Two beluga whale clinical cases provided an opportunity to test this hypothesis: a whale with a skin laceration and a whale with gastrointestinal inflammation. Mitogen-stimulated immunomediator gene transcription (MSIGT) was compared between the cases and healthy contact whales. In both case studies, mitogens increased transcription of IL1B, PTGS2 (Cox-2), TNF, HIF1A, and IL2 but decreased IL10 transcription in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the abnormal whale over the control. Correlations were identified between most immunomediators tested and one or more standard blood clinical values. Considering all 15 immunomediators tested, the whale with gastrointestinal inflammation had a more unique MSIGT signature than the whale with a laceration. These results support further elucidation of beluga whale PBMC cytokine profiles for use as immune biomarkers.
Collapse
|
16
|
Behringer V, Preis A, Wu DF, Crockford C, Leendertz FH, Wittig RM, Deschner T. Urinary Cortisol Increases During a Respiratory Outbreak in Wild Chimpanzees. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:485. [PMID: 32974394 PMCID: PMC7472655 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract: In mammals, the excretion of cortisol can provide energy toward restoring homeostasis and is a major component of the stress response. However, chronically elevated cortisol levels also have suppressive effects on immune function. As mounting an immune response is energetically costly, sick individuals may conserve energy by exhibiting certain sickness behaviors, such as declining activity levels. Due to the complex interplay between immune function and sickness behaviors, endocrinological correlates have received growing attention in the medical community, but so far, this subject was investigated rarely. Furthermore, given the complexities of studying illnesses and immunity in natural settings, correlates of sickness behaviors have yet to be studied in non-human primates in the wild. Methods: We measured urinary cortisol levels using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry in a group of wild habituated chimpanzees in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, before, during, and after a respiratory disease outbreak (main causative pathogen: human respiratory syncytial virus A, with coinfections of Streptococcus pneumoniae). Changes in cortisol levels were then related to urinary neopterin levels, a biomarker of immune system activation. Results: Urinary cortisol levels were found to be more than 10-fold higher during the outbreak in comparison with levels before and after the outbreak period. Increasing cortisol levels were also associated with increasing neopterin levels. Interestingly, rather atypical patterns in a diurnal decline of cortisol levels were found during infection periods, such that levels remained raised throughout the day. Conclusion: In conclusion, cortisol increase was related to cellular immune response. Our results suggest that cortisol is a mediator of infectious disease pathogenicity through its impact on the immune system and that wild chimpanzees may be facing energetic stress when sick. By monitoring immune challenges in wild-living animals, our study demonstrates that immune defenses have costs and that these costs are context-specific.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena Behringer
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna Preis
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Doris F Wu
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Catherine Crockford
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Fabian H Leendertz
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roman M Wittig
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Sebastiano M, Angelier F, Blévin P, Ribout C, Sagerup K, Descamps S, Herzke D, Moe B, Barbraud C, Bustnes JO, Gabrielsen GW, Chastel O. Exposure to PFAS is Associated with Telomere Length Dynamics and Demographic Responses of an Arctic Top Predator. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:10217-10226. [PMID: 32696640 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Environmental factors that can influence telomeres are diverse, but the association between telomeres and exposure to environmental contaminants is yet to be elucidated. To date, prior studies have focused on legacy persistent chlorinated pollutants (POPs), while the effects of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been poorly documented. Here, we investigated the associations among PFAS congeners, absolute telomere length (cross-sectional approach), and telomere dynamics (rate of telomere length change over time, longitudinal approach) in one of the most contaminated arctic top predators, the glaucous gull Larus hyperboreus from Svalbard. We further estimated the effect of PFAS on apparent survival rates and re-sighting probabilities using a 10-year capture/recapture dataset (2010-2019). We found that birds exposed to higher concentrations of perfluorononadecanoate (PFNA) (median of 1565 pg/mL of ww in males and 1370 pg/mL of ww in females) and perfluorotetradecanoate (PFTeDA) (median of 370 pg/mL of ww in males and 210 pg/mL of ww in females) showed the slowest rate of telomere shortening. We also found that high blood concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) (median of 120 pg/mL of ww in males and 150 pg/mL of ww in females) and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) (median of 495 pg/mL of ww in males and 395 pg/mL of ww in females) were positively associated with higher re-sighting probabilities and apparent survival in males but not in females. Our work is the first to report an association between single PFAS compounds and telomeres, and the first to link PFAS exposure with survival probabilities, suggesting that the effect of PFAS exposure might be more tied to the type of compound rather than the total concentration of PFAS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manrico Sebastiano
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-Univ., 79360 La Rochelle, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-Univ., 79360 La Rochelle, France
| | - Pierre Blévin
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-Univ., 79360 La Rochelle, France
- Akvaplan-niva AS, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Cécile Ribout
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-Univ., 79360 La Rochelle, France
| | | | | | - Dorte Herzke
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, NILU, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Børge Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NINA, Høgskoleringen 9, NO-7034 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Christophe Barbraud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-Univ., 79360 La Rochelle, France
| | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NINA, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-Univ., 79360 La Rochelle, France
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Nabi G, Li Y, McLaughlin RW, Mei Z, Wang K, Hao Y, Zheng J, Wang D. Immune Responses of the Critically Endangered Yangtze Finless Porpoises ( Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ssp. asiaeorientalis) to Escalating Anthropogenic Stressors in the Wild and Seminatural Environments. Front Physiol 2020; 10:1594. [PMID: 32116734 PMCID: PMC7010939 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing anthropogenic stressors are potential threats to biodiversity conservation and management of Yangtze finless porpoises (YFPs). The objective of this study was to indirectly compare the habitat quality of a natural reserve, Poyang Lake and a seminatural reserve, the Tian-E-Zhou Oxbow (TZO) in terms of anthropogenic stressors by investigating different stress and immunological parameters in the blood of YFPs. Samples from a total of 74 YFPs from the TZO (n = 43) and Poyang Lake (n = 31) were collected and analyzed. The animals were divided into ontogenetic groups: male calf, female calf, juvenile female, juvenile male, and adult male, and reproductive groups: pregnant female, lactating female, and pregnant plus lactating. The blood from all the animals was analyzed for general stress (HSP14, SOD1, TXN, and FTL), metabolic stress (ACAT2 and THRA), and immunity-related genes (IL12p40, IFNγ, TNFα; IL1α, IL1ra, COX2, CRPL, IL4, and IL8) using qPCR. YFPs living in Poyang Lake showed an increased relative expression pattern for IFNγ, IL1ra, IL4, ACAT2, and CRPL across all the ontogenetic groups with significantly higher expression in adult males. In contrast, YFPs living in the TZO showed a significantly higher expression in 13 of 15 genes analyzed in the male calf group. Across the reproductive states for porpoises living in Poyang Lake, eight of the 15 genes in the pregnant female and three of the 15 genes in the pregnant plus lactating group had a significantly higher expression level. However, in YFPs living in the TZO, eight of the 15 genes showed significantly higher expression in the pregnant and lactating groups. There was significantly a higher expression of most of the genes in porpoises living in the TZO compared to the age-matched groups from porpoises living in Poyang Lake. The exception was the pregnant female group. The higher relative expression of stress and immune genes in the TZO porpoise population compared to porpoises living in Poyang Lake suggests the effects of worsening habitat quality, possibly indicating water pollution and lack of feeding resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ghulam Nabi
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ying Li
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Zhigang Mei
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Kexiong Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yujiang Hao
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinsong Zheng
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Ding Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Seeber PA, Morrison T, Ortega A, East ML, Greenwood AD, Czirják GÁ. Immune differences in captive and free-ranging zebras (Equus zebra and E. quagga). Mamm Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-020-00006-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
AbstractWild mammals in ex situ captivity experience substantially different environmental conditions compared to free-ranging conspecifics, e.g., in terms of diet, climatic conditions, social factors, movement space, and direct anthropogenic disturbance. Moreover, animals in captivity frequently undergo management interventions such as medical treatments which may influence pathogen pressure. Captivity is known to affect immunological responses in some terrestrial and marine mammals; however, it is unclear whether this can be generalized to other taxa. Furthermore, little is known about how energetically costly life history stages such as lactation influence the immune system in wildlife. We measured expression of components of the constitutive and induced innate immunity and of the adaptive immune system in plains and mountain zebras (Equus quagga and E. zebra), including lactating and non-lactating individuals. As a proxy for general immune function, we screened for lytic equine herpesvirus (EHV) infection, a common and often latent pathogen which is reactivated in response to stress and immune challenge. Both energetically cheap markers of the constitutive innate immunity were lower in captive than in wild zebras, whereas energetically costly markers of the induced innate immunity were more highly expressed in captive zebras. Lactation was associated with higher titers of natural antibodies and lysozyme. Lytic EHV infection was not significantly correlated with any of the measured immune markers. Our results suggest that captivity and lactation may influence immune functions in zebra mares.
Collapse
|
20
|
Dugovich BS, Crane LL, Alcantar BB, Beechler BR, Dolan BP, Jolles AE. Multiple innate antibacterial immune defense elements are correlated in diverse ungulate species. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225579. [PMID: 31774834 PMCID: PMC6881064 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to evaluate to what extent different assays of innate immunity reveal similar patterns of variation across ungulate species. We compared several measures of innate antibacterial immune function across seven different ungulate species using blood samples obtained from captive animals maintained in a zoological park. We measured mRNA expression of two receptors involved in innate pathogen detection, toll-like receptors 2 and 5 (TLR2 and 5), the bactericidal capacity of plasma, as well as the number of neutrophils and lymphocytes. Species examined included aoudad (Ammotragus lervia), American bison (Bison bison bison), yak (Bos grunniens), Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti), fallow deer (Dama dama), sika deer (Cervus nippon), and Damara zebra (Equus quagga burchellii). Innate immunity varied among ungulate species. However, we detected strong, positive correlations between the different measures of innate immunity-specifically, TLR2 and TLR5 were correlated, and the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was positively associated with TLR2, TLR5, and bacterial killing ability. Our results suggest that ecoimmunological study results may be quite robust to the choice of assays, at least for antibacterial innate immunity; and that, despite the complexity of the immune system, important sources of variation in immunity in natural populations may be discoverable with comparatively simple tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian S. Dugovich
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Lucie L. Crane
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Benji B. Alcantar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
- Wildlife Safari, Winston, OR, United States of America
| | - Brianna R. Beechler
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Brian P. Dolan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Anna E. Jolles
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Wilson AE, Fair PA, Carlson RI, Houde M, Cattet M, Bossart GD, Houser DS, Janz DM. Environment, endocrinology, and biochemistry influence expression of stress proteins in bottlenose dolphins. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2019; 32:100613. [PMID: 31382157 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2019.100613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Natural and anthropogenic stressors have been reported to impact the health of marine mammals. Therefore, investigation of quantifiable biomarkers in response to stressors is required. We hypothesized that stress protein expression would be associated with biological and health variables in wild and managed-care bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). To test this hypothesis, our study objectives were to (1) determine if stress proteins in skin, white blood cells (WBCs), and plasma could be measured with an antibody-based microarray, (2) measure stress-protein expression relative to biological data (location, sex, age, environment), and (3) determine if stress-protein expression was associated with endocrine, hematological, biochemical and serological variables and gene expression in bottlenose dolphins. Samples were collected from two wild groups (n = 28) and two managed-care groups (n = 17). Proteins involved in the HPA axis, apoptosis, proteotoxicity, and inflammation were identified as stress proteins. The expression of 3 out of 33 proteins was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in skin than plasma and WBCs. Male dolphins had significantly greater expression levels for 10 proteins in skin compared to females. The greatest number of stress-associated proteins varied by the dolphins' environment; nine were greater in managed-care dolphins and 15 were greater in wild dolphins, which may be related to wild dolphin disease status. Protein expression in skin and WBCs showed many positive relationships with measures of plasma endocrinology and biochemistry. This study provides further understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the stress response in bottlenose dolphins and application of a combination of novel methods to measure stress in wildlife.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abbey E Wilson
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Patricia A Fair
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health & Biomolecular Research, 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America; Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 221 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America
| | - Ruth I Carlson
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Magali Houde
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 105 McGill Street, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 2E7, Canada
| | - Marc Cattet
- RGL Recovery Wildlife Health & Veterinary Services, 415 Mount Allison Crescent, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7H 4A6, Canada
| | - Gregory D Bossart
- Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, United States of America; Division of Comparative Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, PO Box 016960 (R-46), Miami, FL 33101, United States of America
| | - Dorian S Houser
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92106, United States of America
| | - David M Janz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Marsili L, Di Guardo G, Mazzariol S, Casini S. Insights Into Cetacean Immunology: Do Ecological and Biological Factors Make the Difference? Front Immunol 2019; 10:1219. [PMID: 31214183 PMCID: PMC6554325 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related protein A (MICA) in fibroblast cell cultures of cetaceans (skin biopsies of free-ranging specimens and skin samples of freshly stranded cetaceans) by an immunofluorescence technique and to outline possible variations in MICA expression linked to different ecological and biological factors, while also investigating MICA expression after in vitro treatments with different contaminants. Free-ranging or stranded specimens of cetaceans were sampled in the Sea of Cortez (Mexico) (Balaenoptera edeni, Delphinus capensis, and Orcinus orca) and in the Mediterranean Sea (Balaenoptera physalus, Physeter macrocephalus, Tursiops truncatus, and Stenella coeruleoalba). Cell cultures were treated with an OC mixture, flame retardants, PAHs, MeHg, and BPA. The three species from the Sea of Cortez showed higher basal activity of MICA and lower levels of DDTs and PCBs than the Mediterranean species. A Pearson's linear coefficient equal to −0.45 also confirmed this tendency to have high levels of MICA and low total OC levels. Treatment of cultured fibroblasts with different contaminants mostly resulted in the upregulation of MICA protein expression by at least one treatment dose; downregulation was also found in some species or treatments. MICA alteration indicates a state of stress of the organism and a modification of the immune system's response and can be proposed as a non-invasive immunological marker that can be measured in skin biopsy samples, thus offering a good alternative to blood measurements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Marsili
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Bossart GD, Romano TA, Peden-Adams MM, Schaefer AM, Rice CD, Fair PA, Reif JS. Comparative Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus) With Viral, Bacterial, and Fungal Infections. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1125. [PMID: 31231361 PMCID: PMC6558379 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (n = 360) from two southeastern U.S. estuarine sites were given comprehensive health examinations between 2003 and 2015 as part of a multi-disciplinary research project focused on individual and population health. The study sites (and sample sizes) included the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, USA (n = 246) and Charleston harbor and associated rivers (CHS), South Carolina, USA (n = 114). Results of a suite of clinicoimmunopathologic tests revealed that both populations have a high prevalence of infectious and neoplastic disease and a variety of abnormalities of their innate and adaptive immune systems. Subclinical infections with cetacean morbillivirus and Chlamydiaceae were detected serologically. Clinical evidence of orogenital papillomatosis was supported by the detection of a new strain of dolphin papillomavirus and herpesvirus by molecular pathology. Dolphins with cutaneous lobomycosis/lacaziasis were subsequently shown to be infected with a novel, uncultivated strain of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, now established as the etiologic agent of this enigmatic disease in dolphins. In this review, innate and adaptive immunologic responses are compared between healthy dolphins and those with clinical and/or immunopathologic evidence of infection with these specific viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. A wide range of immunologic host responses was associated with each pathogen, reflecting the dynamic and complex interplay between the innate, humoral, and cell-mediated immune systems in the dolphin. Collectively, these studies document the comparative innate and adaptive immune responses to various types of infectious diseases in free-ranging Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Evaluation of the type, pattern, and degree of immunologic response to these pathogens provides novel insight on disease immunopathogenesis in this species and as a comparative model. Importantly, the data suggest that in some cases infection may be associated with subclinical immunopathologic perturbations that could impact overall individual and population health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory D. Bossart
- Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Tracy A. Romano
- The Mystic Aquarium, a Division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., Mystic, CT, United States
| | - Margie M. Peden-Adams
- Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Adam M. Schaefer
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, Ft. Pierce, FL, United States
| | - Charles D. Rice
- Graduate Program in Environmental Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Patricia A. Fair
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - John S. Reif
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Behringer V, Stevens JMG, Wittig RM, Crockford C, Zuberbühler K, Leendertz FH, Deschner T. Elevated neopterin levels in wild, healthy chimpanzees indicate constant investment in unspecific immune system. BMC ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1186/s40850-019-0041-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
|
25
|
Nabi G, Hao Y, McLaughlin RW, Wang D. The Possible Effects of High Vessel Traffic on the Physiological Parameters of the Critically Endangered Yangtze Finless Porpoise ( Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ssp. asiaeorientalis). Front Physiol 2018; 9:1665. [PMID: 30546317 PMCID: PMC6280126 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Poyang is the largest freshwater lake in China, where the acoustic environment and space for the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoises (YFPs) has been altered by heavy vessel traffic and dredging activities. The density of vessel and the rate of dredging increases annually, especially in the area with the highest density of YFPs. The heavy vessel traffic can cause an increase in the physical activities and direct physical injuries to the YFPs. Furthermore, noise is a potent stressor to all cetaceans irrespective of age and can compromise all their physiological functions. The objective of this study was to examine the possible effects of heavy vessel traffic and dredging on the biochemistry, hematology, adrenal, thyroid, and reproductive hormones of two different YFP populations. One population was living in Poyang Lake and the second living in the Tian-E-Zhou Oxbow which is a semi-natural resserve. Results: The results showed statistically significantly higher levels of serum cortisol, fT3, fT4, and lowered testosterone in both adult and juvenile YFPs living in Poyang Lake vs. adult YFPs living in the Tian-E-Zhou Oxbow. The serum biochemical parameters (Aspartate Amino Transferase, Alkaline Phosphatase, High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, Globulin, Uric acid, Glucose, K+, and Amylase) and the hematology parameters (Red Blood Cells, Hematocrit, Mean Corpuscular Volume, White Blood Cells, and Eosinophils) were statistically significantly higher in the adult Poyang Lake YFPs vs. adult Tian-E-Zhou Oxbow YFPs. On the other hand, adult males of the Tian-E-Zhou Oxbow also showed significantly higher levels of the serum biochemical parameters (Total Cholesterol, Light Density Lipoprotein cholesterol, Direct Bilirubin, Albumin, Lactate Dehydrogenase, CO2, and Na+) and the blood parameters (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration). In Poyang Lake YFPs, various parameters showed significantly positive (fT4, amylase, neutrophil, Ca+2) or negative (total protein, lymphocyte) correlations with cortisol levels. Conclusions: The hyperactivity of adrenal glands in response to heavy vessel traffic and dredging resulted in significantly elevated cortisol levels in Poyang Lake YFPs. The higher cortisol level could possibly have affected various hormonal, hematological, and biochemical parameters, and ultimately the YFPs physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ghulam Nabi
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yujiang Hao
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | | | - Ding Wang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Champagne CD, Kellar NM, Trego ML, Delehanty B, Boonstra R, Wasser SK, Booth RK, Crocker DE, Houser DS. Comprehensive endocrine response to acute stress in the bottlenose dolphin from serum, blubber, and feces. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 266:178-193. [PMID: 29852162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Several hormones are potential indicators of stress in free-ranging animals and provide information on animal health in managed-care settings. In response to stress, glucocorticoids (GC, e.g. cortisol) first appear in circulation but are later incorporated into other tissues (e.g. adipose) or excreted in feces or urine. These alternative matrices can be sampled remotely, or by less invasive means, than required for blood collection and are especially valuable in highly mobile species, like marine mammals. We characterized the timing and magnitude of several hormones in response to a stressor in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and the subsequent incorporation of cortisol into blubber, and its metabolites excreted in feces. We evaluated the endocrine response to an acute stressor in bottlenose dolphins under managed care. We used a standardized stress protocol where dolphins voluntarily beached onto a padded platform and remained out of water for two hours; during the stress test blood samples were collected every 15 min and blubber biopsies were collected every hour (0, 60, and 120 min). Each subject was studied over five days: voluntary blood samples were collected on each of two days prior to the stress test; 1 and 2 h after the conclusion of the out-of-water stress test; and on the following two days after the stress test. Fecal samples were collected daily, each afternoon. The acute stressor resulted in increases in circulating ACTH, cortisol, and aldosterone during the stress test, and each returned to baseline levels within 2 h of the dolphin's return to water. Both cortisol and aldosterone concentrations were correlated with ACTH, suggesting both corticosteroids are at least partly regulated by ACTH. Thyroid hormone concentrations were generally unaffected by the acute stressor. Blubber cortisol increased during the stress test, and fecal GC excretion was elevated on the day of the stress test. We found that GCs in bottlenose dolphins can recover within hours of acute stress, and that cortisol release can be detected in alternate matrices within a few hours-within 2 h in blubber, and 3.5-5 h in fecal samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cory D Champagne
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Dr Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, United States.
| | - Nicholas M Kellar
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
| | - Marisa L Trego
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States; Ocean Associates, Inc., 4007 N Abingdon St, Arlington, VA 22207, United States
| | - Brendan Delehanty
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rudy Boonstra
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Samuel K Wasser
- Center for Conservation Biology Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Rebecca K Booth
- Center for Conservation Biology Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Daniel E Crocker
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University. 1801 E. Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, United States
| | - Dorian S Houser
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Dr Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Wu DF, Behringer V, Wittig RM, Leendertz FH, Deschner T. Urinary neopterin levels increase and predict survival during a respiratory outbreak in wild chimpanzees (Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire). Sci Rep 2018; 8:13346. [PMID: 30190614 PMCID: PMC6127264 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31563-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring immune system activation of wild animals has garnered increasing interest within the field of ecological immunology, leading to an urgent need for non-invasive biomarkers measuring these changes. Urinary neopterin, a marker of the cell-mediated immune response, is validated as an immune-related biomarker in captive and laboratory animals. However, wild animals naturally host higher and chronic pathogen loads. Therefore, detection and quantification of additional infections via neopterin might not be possible against the background of a chronically challenged immune system. To assess the suitability of urinary neopterin in wild animals, we measured neopterin corrected for specific gravity with an enzyme immunoassay in 185 samples collected before, during and after a respiratory disease outbreak in 28 individuals from a group of wild chimpanzees (Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire). Urinary neopterin levels were significantly higher during periods when individuals showed respiratory symptoms versus before and after the outbreak. Furthermore, urinary neopterin levels were significantly higher in individuals that died, with higher levels already apparent before the outbreak, suggesting individuals may have an already activated immune system. Measuring urinary neopterin levels, with other biomarkers of energetic condition, stress challenges, and reproduction will contribute towards a deeper understanding of life-history trade-offs in wild animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Doris F Wu
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Verena Behringer
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roman M Wittig
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Taï Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, BP 1303, Abidjan 01, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Fabian H Leendertz
- Project Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Dooley CT, Ferrer T, Pagán H, O’Corry-Crowe GM. Bridging immunogenetics and immunoproteomics: Model positional scanning library analysis for Major Histocompatibility Complex class II DQ in Tursiops truncatus. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201299. [PMID: 30070993 PMCID: PMC6072028 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a critical element in mounting an effective immune response in vertebrates against invading pathogens. Studies of MHC in wildlife populations have typically focused on assessing diversity within the peptide binding regions (PBR) of the MHC class II (MHC II) family, especially the DQ receptor genes. Such metrics of diversity, however, are of limited use to health risk assessment since functional analyses (where changes in the PBR are correlated to recognition/pathologies of known pathogen proteins), are difficult to conduct in wildlife species. Here we describe a means to predict the binding preferences of MHC proteins: We have developed a model positional scanning library analysis (MPSLA) by harnessing the power of mixture based combinatorial libraries to probe the peptide landscapes of distinct MHC II DQ proteins. The algorithm provided by NNAlign was employed to predict the binding affinities of sets of peptides generated for DQ proteins. These binding affinities were then used to retroactively construct a model Positional Scanning Library screen. To test the utility of the approach, a model screen was compared to physical combinatorial screens for human MHC II DP. Model library screens were generated for DQ proteins derived from sequence data from bottlenose dolphins from the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and the Atlantic coast of Florida, and compared to screens of DQ proteins from Genbank for dolphin and three other cetaceans. To explore the peptide binding landscape for DQ proteins from the IRL, combinations of the amino acids identified as active were compiled into peptide sequence lists that were used to mine databases for representation in known proteins. The frequency of which peptide sequences predicted to bind the MHC protein are found in proteins from pathogens associated with marine mammals was found to be significant (p values <0.0001). Through this analysis, genetic variation in MHC (classes I and II) can now be associated with the binding repertoires of the expressed MHC proteins and subsequently used to identify target pathogens. This approach may be eventually applied to evaluate individual population and species risk for outbreaks of emerging diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colette T. Dooley
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, Florida, United States of America
| | - Tatiana Ferrer
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| | - Heidi Pagán
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| | - Gregory M. O’Corry-Crowe
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Environmental Sources of Bacteria Differentially Influence Host-Associated Microbial Dynamics. mSystems 2018; 3:mSystems00052-18. [PMID: 29854953 PMCID: PMC5974334 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00052-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
These results provide valuable insights into the ecological influence of exogenous microbial exposure, as well as laying the foundation for improving aquarium management practices. By comparing data for dolphins from aquaria that use natural versus artificial seawater, we demonstrate the potential influence of aquarium water disinfection procedures on dolphin microbial dynamics. Host-associated microbial dynamics are influenced by dietary and immune factors, but how exogenous microbial exposure shapes host-microbe dynamics remains poorly characterized. To investigate this phenomenon, we characterized the skin, rectum, and respiratory tract-associated microbiota in four aquarium-housed dolphins daily over a period of 6 weeks, including administration of a probiotic during weeks 4 to 6. The environmental bacterial sources were also characterized, including the animals’ human handlers, the aquarium air and water, and the dolphins’ food supply. Continuous microbial exposure occurred between all sites, yet each environment maintained a characteristic microbiota, suggesting that the majority of exposure events do not result in colonization. Small changes in water physicochemistry had a significant but weak correlation with change in dolphin-associated bacterial richness but had no influence on phylogenetic diversity. Food and air microbiota were the richest and had the largest conditional influence on other microbiota in the absence of probiotics, but during probiotic administration, food alone had the largest influence on the stability of the dolphin microbiota. Our results suggest that respiratory tract and gastrointestinal epithelium interactions with air- and food-associated microbes had the biggest influence on host-microbiota dynamics, while other interactions, such as skin transmission, played only a minor role. Finally, direct oral stimulation with a foreign exogenous microbial source can have a profound effect on microbial stability. IMPORTANCE These results provide valuable insights into the ecological influence of exogenous microbial exposure, as well as laying the foundation for improving aquarium management practices. By comparing data for dolphins from aquaria that use natural versus artificial seawater, we demonstrate the potential influence of aquarium water disinfection procedures on dolphin microbial dynamics.
Collapse
|
30
|
Hofstetter AR, Eberle KC, Venn-Watson SK, Jensen ED, Porter TJ, Waters TE, Sacco RE. Monitoring bottlenose dolphin leukocyte cytokine mRNA responsiveness by qPCR. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189437. [PMID: 29272269 PMCID: PMC5741220 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Both veterinarians caring for dolphins in managed populations and researchers monitoring wild populations use blood-based diagnostics to monitor bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) health. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) can be used to assess cytokine transcription patterns of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). This can supplement currently available blood tests with information on immune status. Full realization of this potential requires establishment of normal ranges of cytokine gene transcription levels in bottlenose dolphins. We surveyed four dolphins over the span of seven months by serial bleeds. PBMC were stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) and concanavalin A (1 μg/mL) for 48 H in vitro. RNA from these cultures was probed by qPCR using Tursiops truncatus-specific primers (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-13, IL-18, IFN-γ and TNF-α). Two blood samples from an additional bottlenose dolphin diagnosed with acute pulmonary disease add further perspective to the data. We observed that mitogen choice made a significant difference in the magnitude of gene transcription observed. On the other hand, most cytokines tested exhibited limited intra-animal variation. However, IL-6 and IL-12p40 differed between older and younger dolphins. Furthermore, the magnitude of mitogenic response clusters the tested cytokines into three groups. The data provide a reference for the selection of target cytokine mRNAs and their expected range of mitogen-stimulated cytokine gene transcription for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Ruth Hofstetter
- Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kirsten C. Eberle
- Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Stephanie K. Venn-Watson
- Translational Medicine and Research Program, National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Eric D. Jensen
- United States Navy Marine Mammal Program, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Tracy J. Porter
- Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Theresa E. Waters
- Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Randy E. Sacco
- Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|