TY - JOUR
T1 - Generation of reactive oxygen responses by monotreme and marsupial granulocytes
AU - Young, L. J.
AU - Booth, R. J.
AU - Harrison, G. A.
AU - Holz, P. H.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - The granules of circulating leukocytes contain reactive oxygen species that are important components of host defence against bacterial invasion. We report the capacity of marsupials and monotremes to mount such a defence in a manner similar to their eutherian relatives. Using the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test, reactive oxygen species were detected in the peripheral blood cells of five captive marsupial species (the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, the Rufous hare wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus, the Brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata, the Long-footed potoroo, Potorous longipes, and the Long-nosed potoroo, Potorous tridactylus). The study included animals that were clinically healthy and those that were affected by mycobacterial disease. Animals in poor health elicited weak responses, consistent with the NBT test being used as a diagnostic assay for immunodeficiency. The NBT slide assay was also applied to platypus (Ornithorhyncus anatinus) and short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) granulocytes to confirm the applicability of the test to this unique group of mammals.
AB - The granules of circulating leukocytes contain reactive oxygen species that are important components of host defence against bacterial invasion. We report the capacity of marsupials and monotremes to mount such a defence in a manner similar to their eutherian relatives. Using the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test, reactive oxygen species were detected in the peripheral blood cells of five captive marsupial species (the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, the Rufous hare wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus, the Brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata, the Long-footed potoroo, Potorous longipes, and the Long-nosed potoroo, Potorous tridactylus). The study included animals that were clinically healthy and those that were affected by mycobacterial disease. Animals in poor health elicited weak responses, consistent with the NBT test being used as a diagnostic assay for immunodeficiency. The NBT slide assay was also applied to platypus (Ornithorhyncus anatinus) and short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) granulocytes to confirm the applicability of the test to this unique group of mammals.
UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/546030
U2 - 10.1007/s00580-007-0703-1
DO - 10.1007/s00580-007-0703-1
M3 - Article
SN - 1618-5641
VL - 17
SP - 29
EP - 34
JO - Comparative Clinical Pathology
JF - Comparative Clinical Pathology
IS - 1
ER -