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A comparative study of white blood cell counts and disease risk in carnivores.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nunn, CL; Gittleman, JL; Antonovics, J
Published in: Proceedings. Biological sciences
February 2003

In primates, baseline levels of white blood cell (WBC) counts are related to mating promiscuity. It was hypothesized that differences in the primate immune system reflect pathogen risks from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Here, we test for the generality of this result by examining hypotheses involving behavioural, ecological and life-history factors in carnivores. Again, we find a significant correlation in carnivores between mating promiscuity and elevated levels of WBC counts. In addition, we find relationships with measures of sociality, substrate use and life-history parameters. These comparative results across independent taxonomic orders indicate that the evolution of the immune system, as represented by phylogenetic differences in basal levels of blood cell counts, is closely linked to disease risk involved with promiscuous mating and associated variables. We found only limited support for an association between the percentage of meat in the diet and WBC counts, which is consistent with the behavioural and physiological mechanisms that carnivores use to avoid parasite transmission from their prey. We discuss additional comparative questions related to taxonomic differences in disease risk, modes of parasite transmission and implications for conservation biology.

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Published In

Proceedings. Biological sciences

DOI

EISSN

1471-2954

ISSN

0962-8452

Publication Date

February 2003

Volume

270

Issue

1513

Start / End Page

347 / 356

Related Subject Headings

  • Regression Analysis
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Phylogeny
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Carnivora
  • Body Weight
  • Animals
  • Animal Diseases
  • 41 Environmental sciences
 

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Nunn, C. L., Gittleman, J. L., & Antonovics, J. (2003). A comparative study of white blood cell counts and disease risk in carnivores. Proceedings. Biological Sciences, 270(1513), 347–356. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2249
Nunn, Charles L., John L. Gittleman, and Janis Antonovics. “A comparative study of white blood cell counts and disease risk in carnivores.Proceedings. Biological Sciences 270, no. 1513 (February 2003): 347–56. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2249.
Nunn CL, Gittleman JL, Antonovics J. A comparative study of white blood cell counts and disease risk in carnivores. Proceedings Biological sciences. 2003 Feb;270(1513):347–56.
Nunn, Charles L., et al. “A comparative study of white blood cell counts and disease risk in carnivores.Proceedings. Biological Sciences, vol. 270, no. 1513, Feb. 2003, pp. 347–56. Epmc, doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.2249.
Nunn CL, Gittleman JL, Antonovics J. A comparative study of white blood cell counts and disease risk in carnivores. Proceedings Biological sciences. 2003 Feb;270(1513):347–356.
Journal cover image

Published In

Proceedings. Biological sciences

DOI

EISSN

1471-2954

ISSN

0962-8452

Publication Date

February 2003

Volume

270

Issue

1513

Start / End Page

347 / 356

Related Subject Headings

  • Regression Analysis
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Phylogeny
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Carnivora
  • Body Weight
  • Animals
  • Animal Diseases
  • 41 Environmental sciences