Natural immunity factors in Polish mixed breed rabbits

Abstract

Mixed-breed rabbits in Poland are widely used for diagnostic and scientific research and as utility animals, therefore there is a need to know their immunological status, as well as their haematological status. In this study natural immunity factors were analyzed in Polish mixed-breed rabbits and Polish mixed-breed rabbits with addition of blood of meet-breed, considering the impact of sex and season of the year (spring, summer, autumn, winter) using measurement of non-specific cellular and humoral immunity parameters in peripheral blood. The study has revealed that there is a variety between the two commonly used mixed-breed types of rabbits, especially when sex and season is concerned, which is crucial for using these animals in experiments.

Seasonality of blood neopterin levels in the Old Order Amish

“…The absence of gender differences in seasonal variation in neopterin was surprising considering the known gender differences in immune function [67, 68], seasonal changes in immune function [61–63], overall seasonality of physiology and behavior [8, 57–59], seasonal environmental exposures in the Old Order Amish [6, 47] major occupational differences in the Amish between genders, in particular in the summer [47], and finally, the known effects of gonadal steroids on immune function [67, 71]. The lack of replication suggests that neopterin levels were indeed robust to at least occupation and gender, and possibly to hormonal influences.…”

“…In animals, a number of studies have reported sex differences in seasonal variation in immune function with generally higher variation in females in comparison to males, across species [61–63]. Males exhibit increased vulnerability to disease and heightened disease severity when compared to females exposed to the same pathogens [64–66].…”