cells

• Main Author: Tuul Sarv
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Avian Studies
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.517.933; http://lepo.it.da.ut.ee/~horak/2009-Sarv-Horak-JAB.pdf

Measurement of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced skin swelling is the most popular assay of immune function in avian studies. The mechanisms causing swelling have been relatively well studied; however, very little is known about the potential long term physiological effects of PHA. Here we show that injection of PHA into patagium of captive greenfinches Carduelis chloris increases the concentration of heterophils (phagocytic cells of the innate immune response) in the peripheral blood for at least 30 days. Such long-term consequences should be taken into account when using PHA skin test in studies monitoring changes in individual physiological condition and/or immune status. Immunoecology deals with trade-offs between immune function and other vital functions. Understanding why and how these trade-offs emerge is crucial for explaining the evolution of parasite virulence, resistance and tolerance, and mechanisms responsible for life-history trade-offs and honesty of signal traits. To study these issues, ecologists need to assess immune function of organisms. The most popular method to assess immune function in avian studies is the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) skin test (Smits et al.