A novel use of the leukocyte coping capacity assay to assess the immunomodulatory effects of organohalogenated contaminants in avian wildlife

Environment International

Nikolaus Huber¹  Trond V. Johnsen²  Jan O. Bustnes³  Bård-Jørgen Bårdsen⁴  Dorte Herzke⁵  Igor Eulaers⁵  Sophie Bourgeon⁵  Elisabeth Hansen⁶ 

[1] Corresponding author.;Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark;Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department for Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savovenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria;Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway;Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway;UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019 Tromsø, Norway;

关键词: Bird of prey;    Innate immune system;    Organochlorines;    Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances;    Sub-lethal effects;    White-tailed eagle;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Apex predators are characterized by high levels of biomagnifying organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs) which have been found to induce detrimental health effects in wildlife, such as immune system impairment. The leukocyte coping capacity (LCC) assay is a functional real-time measure of an innate immune response essential in pathogen resistance, known as the respiratory burst. The current study suggests the novel use of this tool to test whether OHCs impair the innate immune system of a sentinel top predator, the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla; WTE). The LCC analysis was performed in the field on WTE nestlings (n = 84) from northern Norway over two breeding seasons. Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) dominated the total OHC load, surpassing the levels of legacy organochlorines. In addition, we detected significant negative correlations between concentrations of all polychlorinated biphenyls, p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids and the LCC of WTE nestlings. Based on our current findings reflecting a potential negative effect of both emerging and legacy OHCs on innate immune capacity, we suggest LCC to be a relevant and accessible test expanding the ecotoxicological toolbox to assess sub-lethal effects of OHCs in apex avian wildlife.

【 授权许可】

Unknown