Abstract
Apex predators are characterized by high levels of biomagnifying organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs) which have been found to induce detrimental health effects in wildlife, such as immune system impairment. The leukocyte coping capacity (LCC) assay is a functional real-time measure of an innate immune response essential in pathogen resistance, known as the respiratory burst. The current study suggests the novel use of this tool to test whether OHCs impair the innate immune system of a sentinel top predator, the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla; WTE). The LCC analysis was performed in the field on WTE nestlings (n = 84) from northern Norway over two breeding seasons. Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) dominated the total OHC load, surpassing the levels of legacy organochlorines. In addition, we detected significant negative correlations between concentrations of all polychlorinated biphenyls, p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids and the LCC of WTE nestlings. Based on our current findings reflecting a potential negative effect of both emerging and legacy OHCs on innate immune capacity, we suggest LCC to be a relevant and accessible test expanding the ecotoxicological toolbox to assess sub-lethal effects of OHCs in apex avian wildlife.
Highlights
The current study suggests the novel use of this tool to test whether organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs) impair the innate immune system of a sentinel top predator, the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla; WTE)
Organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs), such as organochlorines (OCs) and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are anthropogenic chemicals utilized for a wide array of industrial and commercial purposes (Buck et al, 2011; Walker, 2001)
Longitudinal studies should examine the long-term effects of lowered innate immune response on survival and reproductive success, and ideally consider variables such as BC and annual variations in contaminant concentrations, as they might influence the relationships between the innate immune response (LCC) and contaminant exposure in WTE nestlings
Summary
Organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs), such as organochlorines (OCs) and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are anthropogenic chemicals utilized for a wide array of industrial and commercial purposes (Buck et al, 2011; Walker, 2001). Apex predatory species are characterized by high exposure and are more prone to suffer from severe health effects (Letcher et al, 2010). High exposure to OHCs has been associated with detrimental effects in wildlife through reproductive impairment in females, lower survival rates or increased mortality of offspring (Letcher et al, 2010; Rattner, 2009) as seen in the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla; hereafter WTE) on the Swedish coast of the Baltic Sea (Helander et al, 2002). Immune system impairment is one potential sub-lethal effect induced by OHC exposure (Desforges et al, 2016). In addition to the physiological impact from OHC exposure, stress (manifested by elevated corticosterone levels, i.e. the major stress hormone in birds; Romero and Romero, 2002) can have pervasive effects on both immunity (Bourgeon and Raclot, 2006; McEwen and Wingfield, 2003) and oxidative stress
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