Urinary neopterin levels increase and predict survival during a respiratory outbreak in wild chimpanzees (Tai National Park, Cote d'Ivoire).

ABSTRACT: Monitoring immune system activation of wild animals has garnered increasing interest within the field of ecological immunology, leading to an urgent need for non-invasive biomarkers measuring these changes. Urinary neopterin, a marker of the cell-mediated immune response, is validated as an immune-related biomarker in captive and laboratory animals. However, wild animals naturally host higher and chronic pathogen loads. Therefore, detection and quantification of additional infections via neopterin might not be possible against the background of a chronically challenged immune system. To assess the suitability of urinary neopterin in wild animals, we measured neopterin corrected for specific gravity with an enzyme immunoassay in 185 samples collected before, during and after a respiratory d

SUBMITTER: Wu DF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6127264 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature