Meeting Abstract
P3.102 Tuesday, Jan. 6 Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio and Stress in Three Species of Myotis: Effects of Sex, Reproductive Stage, Size-Corrected Mass and Site. SMITH, L.C.*; MENDONCA, M.T.; RICHARDSON, C.S.; WIDMAIER, E.P.; HOHMANN, M.G.; Auburn University, AL; Auburn University, AL; Boston University, MA; Boston University, MA; US Army ERDC-CERL smithl9@auburn.edu
We examined variation in neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (N/L) and fecal glucocorticoid (FG) levels in three species of bats from the eastern U.S. Myotis septentrionalis (MSE), M. lucifugus (MLU), and M. sodalis (MSO), in order to assess whether anthropogenic disturbance (i.e. urbanization, military activity) may constitute a chronic stressor and potentially affect the exposed animals immunocompetence. Bats were captured by mist net at impacted and non-impacted sites in Indiana and Kentucky from May to August, 2007. Blood was taken within three minutes of capture, and analyzed to determine N/L. FG levels were obtained from fecal pellets collected up to 1.5 hrs post-capture. Size-corrected mass (SCM) was calculated as the residuals of body mass against forearm length. We compared N/L among species, sexes, sample months for males, reproductive status for females, and sites. We also examined FG levels and SCM in relation to N/L for these same groups. Males showed no significant differences. However, MSE females showed variation in N/L by reproductive stage (p=0.004): ratios for pregnant and lactating females were significantly higher than those of post-lactating females. A similar trend was present in MLU and MSO females, but not significant. Also, MSO females N/L were significantly higher than those of MLU and MSE (p=0.004). Additionally, N/L of pregnant and lactating MSE females from impacted areas were significantly higher than those from non-impacted sites (p=0.02), suggesting that these bats may have been under chronic stress, which might have an effect on their immune response. Preliminary analysis indicates little to no relationship between N/L, FG levels, and SCM.
