Relationship between blood test values and blood lead (Pb) levels inBlack-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus: Laridae)

摘要

Few studies have evaluated immunosuppression due to lead accumulation below the overttoxicity threshold. If low levels of lead accumulation cause immunosuppression in birds,those birds could become more susceptible to pathogens. We aimed to determine if lowlevels of lead accumulation lead to immunosuppression in Black-headed gulls( ). Gulls were captured in Tokyo-bay andMikawa-bay from January to April 2019. Their blood samples were analyzed for eight items.The data were analyzed to evaluate the correlation between lead concentrations and thevariables from each bay. Lead was positively correlated with the percentage of heterophilsand heterophil and lymphocyte ratio and negatively with lymphocytes. Thus, low leadaccumulation levels may induce changes in percentage of the heterophils andlymphocyte.