title: Immunomodulation and hormonal disruption without compromised disease resistance in perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposed Japanese quail.
abstract: This study evaluated the impact of oral perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on Japanese quail at concentrations found in American and Belgian workers at PFOA manufacturing facilities. Three arms of the immune system were tested; T cell, B cell, and innate immunity. After 6 weeks exposure, quail were challenged with E. coli infection to test the ultimate measure of immunotoxicity, disease resistance. The T cell response was lower in the high exposure groups. Antibody mediated, and innate immune responses were not different. Growth rate was higher, whereas thyroid hormone levels were lower in PFOA-exposed birds. Morbidity/mortality from disease challenge was not different among the control and PFOA-exposed groups, and no overt PFOA toxicity was observed pre-disease challenge. Although PFOA at 'worst case scenario' levels caused T cell immunosuppression, this did not translate into increased disease susceptibility, demonstrating that immunotoxicity testing must be interpreted with caution since disease resistance is the ultimate concern.
authors: Department of Ecosystem & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. judit.smits@ucalgary.ca
authors: Judit E G
authors: JE
authors: Smits
authors: Sukhbir
authors: S
authors: Nain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D002210:Caprylates / Q000633:toxicity*; D003370:Coturnix / Q000276:immunology*; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000662:veterinary; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006728:Hormones; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid