Social and environmental factors modulate leucocyte profiles in free-living Greylag geese (Anser anser).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Blood parameters such as haematocrit or leucocyte counts are indicators of immune status and health, which can be affected, in a complex way, by exogenous as well as endogenous factors. Additionally, social context is known to be among the most potent stressors in group living individuals, therefore potentially influencing haematological parameters. However, with few exceptions, this potential causal relationship received only moderate scientific attention.

Methods

In a free-living and individually marked population of the highly social and long-lived Greylag goose, Anser anser, we relate variation in haematocrit (HCT), heterophils to lymphocytes ratio (H/L) and blood leucocyte counts to the following factors: intrinsic (sex, age, raising condition, i.e. go

SUBMITTER: Frigerio D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5215086 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature