Effect of ultraviolet radiation on the immune response in neonates of Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) injected with LPS from Escherichia coli.

LUCÍA FERNANDEZ; GISELA L. POLETTA; AMAVET, PATRICIA; PABLO A. SIROSKI

Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Congreso; 23rd Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group; 2014

Ultraviolet radiation (frequencies A and B) is necessary in many vital processes and all organisms have a dependence directly or indirectly. In natural conditions, quantity and quality of UV radiation received by organisms depends on numerous factors. Under artificial conditions, it is possible to provide and regulate UV exposure but an overexposure might induce adverse effects such as immune suppression debilitating the recognition of some antigens even few days after of the irradiation. The damages caused by this type of radiation might have serious influence on both animals and human beings health populations. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major component of the wall of Gram negative bacteria and contains a toxic substance (Lipid A) that is recognized by the immune systems of higher eukaryotes and causes an inflammatory reaction. In this case, LPS was used to challenge an immune response. Ninety-five days under different UVR intensities treatments caimans were injected with LPS and and saline solution; animal growth (weight, total and snout?vent length), as well as immune response was evaluated. The results showed that only immune parameters, as complement system, could be affected for the high intensities of UV exposure (p < 0,01). Growth of the animals was not affected by the different intensities (p>0,05).