Seasonal variation in sex-specific immunity in wild birds

Whilst the immune system often varies seasonally and exhibits differences between males and females, the general patterns in seasonality and sex differences across taxa have remained controversial. Birds are excellent model organisms to assess these patterns, because the immune system of many specie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2021-01, Vol.11 (1), p.1349-1349, Article 1349
Main Authors: Valdebenito, José O., Halimubieke, Naerhulan, Lendvai, Ádám Z., Figuerola, Jordi, Eichhorn, Götz, Székely, Tamás
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/158/856
631/250
631/601/1737
Animal breeding
Birds
Breeding seasons
Gender differences
Hemagglutination
Humanities and Social Sciences
Immune status
Immune system
Lymphocytes
Macrophages
Males
multidisciplinary
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Seasonal variations
Sex
Sex differences
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Summary:Whilst the immune system often varies seasonally and exhibits differences between males and females, the general patterns in seasonality and sex differences across taxa have remained controversial. Birds are excellent model organisms to assess these patterns, because the immune system of many species is well characterised. We conducted a meta-analysis using 41 wild bird species from 24 avian families to investigate sex differences and seasonal (breeding/non-breeding) variations in immune status, including white blood cell counts, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) test, bacteria-killing ability (BKA), haemolysis and haemagglutination assays. We found male-biased macrophage concentration, BKA and haemolysis titers, but only during the breeding season. Sex-specific heterophil concentrations, heterophil/lymphocyte ratios and PHA responses differed between breeding and non-breeding, suggesting larger changes in males than in females. Importantly, sex differences in immune status are stronger during the breeding period than during the non-breeding period. Taken together, our study suggests that both seasonal variation and sex differences in immune system are common in birds, although their associations are more complex than previously thought.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-80030-9