Simulated bacterial infection disrupts the circadian fluctuation of immune cells in wrinkle-lipped bats ( Chaerephon plicatus )

PeerJ

article

Philipp Weise¹  Gábor A. Czirják³  Oliver Lindecke¹  Sara Bumrungsri⁵  Christian C. Voigt¹ 

[1] Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research;Department of Biology, Humboldt Universität;Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research;Department of Animal Behaviour, Freie Universität Berlin;Department of Biology, Prince of Songkla University

关键词: Acute phase response;    Diurnal immune changes;    Eosinophils;    Neutrophils;    Body mass loss;    Leukocytosis;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.3570

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundLeukocyte concentrations follow a circadian pattern in mammals, with elevated values at times of potential contact with pathogens and parasites. We hypothesized that this pattern is disturbed after an immune challenge.MethodsIn Thailand, we captured wrinkle-lipped bats (Chaerephon plicatus), when they returned to their colony at dawn. We challenged half of the animals (experimental group) with bacterial lipopolysaccharides and treated the others only with the carrier liquid (control group). We then compared body mass changes and differences in circulating immune cell counts at 8 h post-treatment.ResultsIn experimental animals, we observed an increase in total leukocyte and neutrophil numbers of 17% and 95%, respectively. In control animals, concentrations of leukocytes decreased by 44% and those of neutrophils remained constant. Experimental treatment had no effect on lymphocytes, yet changes in eosinophil numbers were explained by sex. Eosinophils decreased by 66% in females and by 62% in males. Basophils and monocytes were rarest among all observed cell types and analysis was either impossible because of low numbers or yielded no significant effects, respectively.DiscussionOur findings show that a simulated bacterial infection triggered a neutrophil-associated immune response in wrinkle-lipped bats, indicating a disruption of the diurnal fluctuation of immune cells. Our study suggests that bats exhibit circadian rhythms in immune cell counts. The magnitude of these fluctuations may vary across species according to specific-specific infection risks associated with colony sizes or specific roosting habits.

【 授权许可】

CC BY