Leukocyte counts in different populations of Antarctic Pygoscelid penguins along the Antarctic Peninsula

D'AMICO, V.; BERTELLOTTI, M; BENZAL, J.; CORIA, N.; VIDAL, V.; DIAZ, J. I.; BARBOSA, A.

POLAR BIOLOGY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2015 vol. 39

0722-4060

Leukocyte counts provide information on immunity and physiological stress in birds. Heterophils (H), eosinophils (E), basophils (B) and monocytes (M) are associated to the innate immunity, while lymphocytes (L) are part of the acquired immunity, and H/L ratio has been considered as a measurement of stress. The objective of this study was to describe the pattern of the leukocyte counts in penguins of the genus Pygoscelis (Gentoo, Adélie and Chinstrap) from north (62°15?S) to south (67°46?S) covering the South Shetland Islands and the west coast of Antarctic Peninsula. Our results showed no general latitudinal patterns from north to south, but they do reveal differences in H, E and H/L ratios in the northward population for Gentoo and Adélie penguins. The higher numbers of these leukocytes types in the northernmost site compared to the rest of the locations sampled could be related either to an investment in the immune system as a result of parasite infections or other stress situations.