Erythrocytes nuclear abnormalities and leukocyte profile of the immune system of Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding at Edmonson Point, Ross Sea, Antarctica
Antarctic seabirds well adapted to extreme environments often deal during their life cycle with sub-optimal conditions and occasionally with severe environmental stress. Climate changes, pollution, habitat loss, increasing human presence can all significantly affect organism's health status from molecular to individual up to population level. In the present study, erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENAs) and white blood cells (WBCs) differential were investigated in 19 adults of Adelie penguin (Pygoscelisadeliae) breeding at Edmonson Point, Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA n. 165) in the Ross Sea. Micronuclei (MN) accounted for 10.50% of observed abnormalities in penguin erythrocytes while kidney-shaped nucleus (KSN) was the most abundant (20.88%). Heterophils (HE) were the most common WBC (36.93%) in agreement with the generic avian leukocytes profile while eosinophils (EO) were the lowest (7.45%). A low number of lymphocytes were detected resulting in a higher heterophils to lymphocytes ratio. ENAs and H:L ratio are confirmed as reliable indexes of penguin's health status since they reflect their individual adaptation during breeding season. These baseline data will be useful for future studies as indicators of penguin's health status mainly as response to environmental changes.
1.Univ Siena, Dipartimento Sci Fis Terra & Ambiente, Via Mattioli 4, I-53100 Siena, Italy 2.Museo Nazl Antartide Felice Ippolito, Via Laterino 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy 3.Univ Plymouth, Sch Biol & Marine Sci, Plymouth PL4 8AA, Devon, England 4.Univ Siena, Dipartimento Sci Vita, Via Mattioli 4, I-53100 Siena, Italy 5.CNR, Ist Ric Acque, Via Salaria Km 29,300 CP10, I-00015 Rome, Italy
Recommended Citation:
Olmastroni, Silvia,Pompeo, Giulia,Jha, Awadhesh N.,et al. Erythrocytes nuclear abnormalities and leukocyte profile of the immune system of Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding at Edmonson Point, Ross Sea, Antarctica[J]. POLAR BIOLOGY,2019-01-01,42(7):1343-1352