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Normal levels of immunocompetence in possums ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) exposed to different laboratory housing conditions post capture
Author(s) -
Begg Douglas,
Kemp Roslyn,
Griffin Frank
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1711.2004.01219.x
Subject(s) - immunocompetence , biology , zoology , psychology , immunology , immune system
Specific and non‐specific immunological tests were used to monitor aspects of the immune response in captive possums. The tests included total and differential white blood cell counts, lymphocyte transformation assay, and enzyme linked immunosorbant assay. The level of free cortisol present in possum plasma samples was evaluated as an endocrine marker for stress. Four different housing conditions were used to test whether stress could be managed or avoided in captive animals. Animals were caged individually or as groups in pens. Bacille Calmette‐Gurein (BCG) and tetanus toxoid immunization was used to evoke primary cell mediated and antibody responses in test animals. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in immunological responses or endocrine parameters in animals held under any of the housing conditions. The results infer that wild possums adapt quickly post‐capture to novel housing conditions and produce representative patterns of immunity when held in housing conditions and fed ad libitum .