Comparative estimation of some immune parameters in three felid species

Naidenko S.V., Erofeeva M.N., Demina T.S., Alekseicheva I.A., Pavlova E.V.

P. 1-11

Pallas’ cat inhabits dry steppes in the center of Asia where winter temperatures may drop below -50°C. We suggested that the evolution in severe climatic conditions and costly adaptations to low ambient temperatures may result in decrease of immunity of this species, because it prevents acquisition of adequate resources to develop robust immune responses. We estimated humoral immune response to a non-replicating antigen (sheep red blood cells) in ten captive Pallas’ cats, twelve domestic cats and six Far Eastern wildcats. Blood-sampling was conducted prior to and 21 days after the injection. We analyzed changes in body mass, number of leukocytes, IgG concentration and hemoagglutination/hemolysis titer. Pallas’ cat had lower hemoagglutination/hemolysis titer before the injection and showed lower titer than the two other felids three weeks after the injection. These results may reflect a lower level of natural antibodies in Pallas’ cat than in the two other species and, possibly, lower innate immunity of this species. Domestic cats, which were serum positive to feline coronavirus, also showed lower hemoagglutination/hemolysis titer during the experiment than serum negative animals.DOI: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.18.1.01

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