Immunity

Hassl, A. (2005). Snake egg immunoglobulins: biochemical characteristics and adjusted isolation procedure. Journal of Immunological Methods 297(1-2): 253-257. ISSN: 0022-1759.
NAL Call Number: QL180.J6
Abstract: Transmission of specific immunoglobulins from mothers to their offspring via the egg is a common phenomenon in egg-laying vertebrates but the occurrence of this phenomenon in reptiles, especially in colubrid snakes, has not been proven until recently. Thus, the essential biochemical characteristics of antibodies deposited in eggs of Elaphe guttata (Colubridae, Serpentes) were studied after isolation of the antibody by precipitation and purification by affinity chromatography and gel filtration, with verification by isoelectric focusing and immunoprecipitation. The immunoglobulin deposited in the eggs of colubrid snakes is a singular, non-truncated IgY antibody in a concentration roughly equal to that in the snake's serum. An efficient method to isolate antibody from snake eggs was developed, based on the PEG precipitation technique of avian yolk immunoglobulins; an unsophisticated protocol for the isolation procedure appropriate for reptile eggs is provided.
Descriptors: snakes, Colubridae, immunoglobulins analysis and isolation, egg protein analysis, ovum.

Merchant, M., D. Thibodeaux, K. Loubser, and R.M. Elsey (2004). Amoebacidal effects of serum from the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Journal of Parasitology 90(6): 1480-1483. ISSN: 0022-3395.
NAL Call Number: 448.8 J824
Descriptors: reptiles, American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, serum, effects, amoebacidal.

Si, K.Y., Z.H. Liu, S.Y. Yu, and Z.R. Wang (2005). Study on GAP-43 immunoreactivity in the retina of adult fish (Carp brocarded), lizard (Phrynocephalus prezewalskic), pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). Journal of Lanzhou University Natural Sciences 41(3): 36-40 Sum 159. ISSN: 0455-2059.
Descriptors: reptiles, fish, Carp brocarded, lizard, Phrynocephalus prezewalskic, pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, retina, immunoreactivity, GAP-43, study.
Language of Text: Chinese; Summary in Chinese and English.

Trandaburu, I., T. Trandaburu, and L. Ungureanu (2002(2004) janvier-decembre). Neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) immunoreactivity in the gastrointestinal tract of several reptiles. Revue Roumaine De Biologie Serie De Biologie Animale 47(1-2): 79-86. ISSN: 0377-8142.
Descriptors: reptiles, turtles, lizards, snakes, neuropeptide tyrosine, immunoreactivity, gastrointestinsl tract, NPY.

Uller, T., M. Olsson, and T. Madsen (2003). Family and population effects on disease resistance in a reptile. Heredity 91(2): 112-116. ISSN: 0018-067X.
Abstract: Despite its importance in evolutionary biology, studies of the pattern of disease resistance in natural populations are rare. In this paper, we report patterns of infection of a viral eye disease in juvenile Swedish common lizards (Lacerta vivipara). Females were sampled at random from natural populations immediately prior to parturition with equal exposure of pathogens for all lizards once in captivity. No causative agents could be found that linked risk of disease to maternal/interfollicular transfer of pathogens. The results show that a major factor influencing offspring susceptibility is family identity, suggesting heritable variation in pathogen resistance. Our interpopulation comparison provides additional support for a link between genetics and disease resistance. Lizards in northern Sweden were not only more susceptible to the disease but were also more health compromised once infected, with relatively more reduced growth rate and increased mortality than lizards from the south. This scenario suggests that southern lizards have been under selection for resistance to this pathogen, whereas northern lizards have not, or at least not to the same degree. Thus, this study confirms the importance of genetic (family) effects on pathogen resistance with variation in this trait among natural populations.
Descriptors: reptile, lizards, Lacerta vivipara, immunity, natural genetics, immunology, eye infections, viral genetics, viral mortality, population, virology, viruses pathogenicity.

Yang, X. and Y. Zhao (2003). Impacts of the abiotic and biotic factors on the immune response of soft-shelled turtle. In: Proceedings of the Third World Fisheries Congress: Feeding the world with fish in the next millenium - the balance between production and environment,October 31, 2000-November 3, 2000, Beijing, China, American Fisheries Society Symposium, 0892-2284, American Fisheries Society: Bethesda, MD, p. 169-175. ISBN: 1888569557.
NAL Call Number: SH3 .A5 no. 38
Descriptors: reptiles, soft shelled turtles, abiotic factors, biotic factors, immune response.

Zhou, X., C. Niu, and R. Sun (2004). The effects of vitamin E on antiacid stress ability in juvenile soft-shelled turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part C Toxicology and Pharmacology 137(4): 299-305. ISSN: 1532-0456.
Abstract: We determined the effect of dietary supplementation with vitamin E (0-, 50-, 250-, 500-, 1000- and 5000-mg/kg diet for 4 weeks) on antistress ability in juvenile soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). Half of the turtles per dose group were treated by acid stress for 24 h. The results showed that phagocytosis of blood cells in the control group significantly decreased after acid stress while the other five groups had no significant changes compared with those of before stress. Serum bacteriolytic activity in the control group and the group supplemented with 50-mg vitamin E/kg diet significantly decreased after acid stress. The other four groups showed no significant differences compared with those before stress. Serum bactericidal activities in all groups notably decreased after acid stress, but the difference of serum bactericidal activity in before and after stress had a decreased tendency from the control group to the highest dose group. Serum cortisol levels in the control group were significantly increased while the other five groups had no notable increases after acid stress. Liver vitamin E levels in all groups had no notable changes compared with those before stress but there was a tendency to decrease after acid stress. These results suggest that acid stress depress immune function and increase serum cortisol levels in turtles while vitamin E alleviate the adverse effects caused by acid stress.
Descriptors: reptiles, soft-shelled turtles, Pelodiscus sinensis, antacid stress ability, vitamine E, effects, juvenile, dietary supplementation, immune function.