Presence of antibodies to Salmonella in tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) sera

Middleton, Danielle; Nelson, Nicola J.; Gartrell, Brett D.; Flamme, Anne Camille La

doi:10.1016/j.cimid.2015.06.001

Cited by 10 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…This relationship is believed to be a result of physiological as well as behavioral differences. Behaviors such as dominance over food or activity rate can influence the exposure that a sex has to a particular parasite (Middleton et al, ). For example, captive male tuatara have been found to be more reactive against Salmonella saintpaul and Citrobacter koseri than females due to food bowl domination over contaminated feed (Middleton et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Behaviors such as dominance over food or activity rate can influence the exposure that a sex has to a particular parasite (Middleton et al, ). For example, captive male tuatara have been found to be more reactive against Salmonella saintpaul and Citrobacter koseri than females due to food bowl domination over contaminated feed (Middleton et al, ). We previously found that male slider turtles had a higher number of intestinal parasites than females (Stromsland & Zimmerman, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Behaviors such as dominance over food or activity rate can influence the exposure that a sex has to a particular parasite (Middleton et al, 2015). For example, captive male tuatara have been found to be more reactive against Salmonella saintpaul and…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, we decided to explore the relationships between NAbs and Salmonella in our turtles, and use LPS from Salmonella as our antigen of interest. Salmonella is a generalist pathogen prominently found in various taxa including reptiles, birds, and mammals (Middleton, Nelson, Gartrell, & La Flammea, 2015). Most Salmonella infections of birds and mammals cause infections capable of inducing clinical disease (Middleton et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Salmonella is a generalist pathogen prominently found in various taxa including reptiles, birds, and mammals (Middleton, Nelson, Gartrell, & La Flammea, 2015). Most Salmonella infections of birds and mammals cause infections capable of inducing clinical disease (Middleton et al, 2015). While mammals and birds face severe symptoms from Salmonella infection, reptiles are typically able to tolerate the colonization with no associated disease.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mucosal antibody quantity but not avidity predicts likelihood of Salmonella infection in red‐eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta)

et al. 2019

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Natural antibodies (NAbs) are polyreactive, have low avidity, and are a product of B‐1 cells. Evidence suggests that NAbs may play a key role in immune defense in turtles, as increased total mucosal antibodies are associated with a decreased number of extracellular intestinal parasites. However, it is unknown if this trend extends to other types of pathogens and if avidity of the NAb to the pathogen is a factor in protection. We examined the relationship between a common intracellular bacteria in turtles—Salmonella—and NAbs. Plasma and mucosal samples were taken from red‐eared slider turtles. We measured levels and avidity of antibodies that bound to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of Salmonella cell wall. We examined the relationship between these measures and the ability of plasma to kill Salmonella as well as infection status. Higher mucosal antibody levels were significantly associated with a decrease in likelihood of infection with Salmonella; however, plasma antibody levels were not. There was a trend for bactericidal ability of the plasma to be positively correlated with plasma antibody levels bound to LPS, but not mucosal antibody levels. Avidity was not significantly related to either killing capacity or likelihood of infection suggesting that only increased quantity and not better binding is responsible for the decreased likelihood of infection. These findings suggest that NAb regulation was sufficient to isolate the infection to the gastrointestinal tract of the turtles, allowing it to be cleared with the mucus layer. Our results add further evidence that turtles use a general, nonspecific NAb response to combat pathogens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Mucosal antibody quantity but not avidity predicts likelihood of Salmonella infection in red‐eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta)

et al. 2019

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Gut microbiome of the sole surviving member of reptile order Rhynchocephalia reveals biogeographic variation, influence of host body condition and a substantial core microbiota in tuatara across New Zealand

Hoffbeck,

Middleton,

Lamar

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Tuatara are the sole extant species in the reptile order Rhynchocephalia. They are ecologically and evolutionarily unique, having been isolated geographically for ~84 million years and evolutionarily from their closest living relatives for ~250 million years. Here we report the tuatara gut bacterial community for the first time. We sampled the gut microbiota of translocated tuatara at five sanctuaries spanning a latitudinal range of ~1000 km within Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as individuals from the source population on Takapourewa (Stephens Island). This represents a first look at the bacterial community of the order Rhynchocephalia and provides the opportunity to address several key hypotheses, namely that the tuatara gut microbiota: (1) differs from those of other reptile orders; (2) varies among geographic locations but is more similar at sites with more similar temperatures and (3) is shaped by tuatara body condition, parasitism and ambient temperature. We found significant drivers of the microbiota in sampling site, tuatara body condition, parasitism and ambient temperature, suggesting the importance of these factors when considering tuatara conservation. We also derived a ‘core’ community of shared bacteria across tuatara at many sites, despite their geographic range and isolation. Remarkably, >70% of amplicon sequence variants could not be assigned to known genera, suggesting a largely undescribed gut bacterial community for this ancient host species.

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The effects of annual cycle, source population, and body condition on leukocyte profile and immune challenge in a basal reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

Lamar,

Frank,

La Flamme

et al. 2023

J Exp Zool Pt A

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Leukocyte profiles are broadly used to assess the health status of many species. Reference intervals, and an understanding of the factors that may influence these intervals, are necessary for adequate interpretation of leukograms. Using a data set that spans over three decades, we investigated variation in leukocyte profile in several populations of the evolutionarily unique reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). To do this, we first established reference intervals for each leukocyte type according to best practices. Next, we determined that source population and sampling date were the two most important predictors of leukocyte makeup. We found significant differences in the ratio of heterophils: lymphocytes (H:L) between populations, with tuatara on the more resource‐stressed sampling island having a significantly higher ratio of H:L. Finally, we found that sampling location, sex, and life stage did not explain variation in the responses of tuatara to stimulation with Concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide in both 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐di‐phenyltetrazolium bromide and Griess assay experiments. Our results offer important insight into the function of leukocytes in reptiles.

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Presence of antibodies to Salmonella in tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) sera

Cited by 10 publications

References 42 publications

Mucosal antibody quantity but not avidity predicts likelihood of Salmonella infection in red‐eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta)

Mucosal antibody quantity but not avidity predicts likelihood of Salmonella infection in red‐eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta)

Gut microbiome of the sole surviving member of reptile order Rhynchocephalia reveals biogeographic variation, influence of host body condition and a substantial core microbiota in tuatara across New Zealand

The effects of annual cycle, source population, and body condition on leukocyte profile and immune challenge in a basal reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

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