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Potential immunohaematological effects of persistent organic pollutants on chinstrap penguin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2015

S. Jara-Carrasco ,
M. González ,
D. González-Acuña ,
G. Chiang ,
J. Celis ,
W. Espejo ,
P. Mattatall  and
R. Barra
S. Jara-Carrasco*
Affiliation:
Department of Aquatic Systems, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Box 160C, 4070386, Concepción, Chile
M. González
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Casilla 160C, 4070386, Concepción, Chile
D. González-Acuña
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad de Concepción, Box 537, Chillán, Chile
G. Chiang
Affiliation:
Melimoyu Ecosystem Research Institute. Lo Beltran 2347 Vitacura, 7640392, Santiago, Chile
J. Celis
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidad de Concepción, Box 537, Chillán, Chile
W. Espejo
Affiliation:
Department of Aquatic Systems, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Box 160C, 4070386, Concepción, Chile
P. Mattatall
Affiliation:
Department of Aquatic Systems, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Box 160C, 4070386, Concepción, Chile Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Casilla 160C, 4070386, Concepción, Chile
R. Barra
Affiliation:
Department of Aquatic Systems, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Box 160C, 4070386, Concepción, Chile
*
soljara@udec.cl
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Abstract

It has been demonstrated that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can affect the immune system of mammals and birds. In this study, the concentration of different POPs and leukocytes in blood samples from three chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) populations was analysed in order to assess the impact on haematological parameters. Using blood sample smears, basophils, eosinophils, heterophils, lymphocytes and monocytes were quantified. Mature and immature red blood cells were counted and cell alterations in both white and red blood cells were analysed. At the same time, whole blood was analysed for POPs. The results showed that contaminants, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (ΣDDT), as well as polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCB), had significant correlations to eosinophils, lymphocytes and heterophils. This indicates possible immunohaematological alterations derived from exposure to such contaminants. Cytological alterations were also observed, such as cytotoxic granules, toxic heterophils, and atypical and granulated lymphocytes, which would demonstrate that these seabirds are being exposed to stress agents that could be producing some alterations at a leukocytary cellular level.

Keywords

Antarctic Peninsulacytological alterationsleukocytePygoscelis antarcticarelative condition factorSouth Shetland Islands
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , August 2015 , pp. 373 - 381
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Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2015 

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