No fever and leucocytosis in response to a lipopolysaccharide challenge in an insectivorous bat.
Bat immune systems may allow them to respond to zoonotic agents more efficiently than other mammals. As the first line of defence, the taxonomically conserved acute phase immune reaction of leucocytosis and fever is crucial for coping with infections, but it is unknown if this response is a key constituent to bat immunological success. We investigated the acute phase reaction to a standard lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in Pallas's mastiff bats (Molossus molossus). Challenged bats lost mass, but in contrast to other mammals showed no leucocytosis or fever. There also was no influence on body temperature reduction during torpor. When compared to recent genome-wide assays for constituent immune genes, this lack of a conserved fever response to LPS contributes to a clearer understanding of the innate immune system in bat species and of the coevolution of bats with a wide diversity of pathogens.
Department of Migration and Immuno-ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, Radolfzell 78315, Germany Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Konstanz 78464, Germany Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama.
Sebastian
S
Stockmaier
Department of Migration and Immuno-ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, Radolfzell 78315, Germany Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Konstanz 78464, Germany Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama.
Dina K N
DK
Dechmann
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama.
Rachel A
RA
Page
Department of Migration and Immuno-ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, Radolfzell 78315, Germany Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Konstanz 78464, Germany Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Konstanz 78464, Germany Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama tomara@orn.mpg.de.
M Teague
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6951-1648
MT
O'Mara
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000276:immunology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000276:immunology; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000276:immunology*; D005334:Fever / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D064348:Torpor / Q000276:immunology
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides
Molossus; immune response; lipopolysaccharide; mass loss; toll-like receptor 4; white blood cell count