Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T14:26:33.912Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Avian blood leucocyte responses to stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

M. H. Maxwell
M. H. Maxwell
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS, UK
Get access

Abstract

This review on avian blood leucocyte responses to stress covers the literature from the early 1980s. It considers only non-infectious hormonal responses of leucocytes to stress mediated either by nutritional, parenteral, climatic/environmental (physical or social) or psychological stressors. The heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio after the administration of ACTH either in the diet or by injection and during food restriction studies has been studied. The ratio was found to be inadequate during severe food restriction studies, as some stressed birds responded with a heteropenia, lymphocytosis and a significant basophilia. Climatic and environmental stressors such as road transportation and heat stress produced significantly raised H/L ratios and basophilias, respectively. Psychological stressors such as fasting, frustration or noise showed different leucocytic responses and the times in which cells were mobilized also varied. Although the H/L ratio is a less variable indicator of avian stress than individual cell numbers and more reliable than corticosteroid levels in plasma, this rule applies only when mild to moderate stress exists. During extreme stress, as in life-threatening situations, a heteropenia and basophilia develop so the H/L ratio cannot always be accepted as an accurate measurement of stress in poultry. Thus, in some avian stress a two-phase cellular reaction may be present. This biphasic leucocytic response to stress may be unique to Aves.

Keywords

Avianbloodleucocytesstress responses
Type
Research Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 49 , Issue 1 , March 1993 , pp. 34 - 43
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anthony, N.B., Katanbaf, M.N. and Siegel, P.B. (1988) Responses to social disruption in two lines of White Leghorn chickens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 21: 243–250CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Awadhiya, R.P., Vegad, J.L. and Kolte, G.N. (1980) Demonstration of the phagocytic activity of chicken thrombocytes using colloidal carbon. Research in Veterinary Science 29: 120–122CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bannister, G.L. (1951) Avian blood changes following injections of cortisone. Canadian Journal of Comparative Medicine 15: 169–171Google Scholar
Baxter, J.D. and Harris, A.W. (1975) Mechanisms of glucocorticoid action: general features, with reference to steroid-mediated immunosuppression. Transplantation Proceedings 7: 55–65Google ScholarPubMed
Nathan, Ben D., Heller, E.D. and Perek, M. (1976) The effect of short heat stress upon leucocyte count, plasma corticosterone level, plasma and leucocyte ascorbic acid content. British Poultry Science 17: 481–485Google Scholar
Beuving, G., Jones, R.B. and Blokhuis, H.J. (1989) Adrenocortical and heterophil/lymphocyte responses to challenge in hens showing short or long tonic immobility reactions. British Poultry Science 30: 175–184CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bhattacharyya, T.K. and Sarkar, A.K, (1968) Avian leucocytic responses induced by stress and corticoid inhibitors. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 6: 26–28Google ScholarPubMed
Brake, J., Baker, M., Morgan, G.W. and Thaxton, P. (1982) Physiological changes in caged layers during a forced molt. 4. Leucocytes and packed cell volume. Poultry Science 61: 790–795CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cannon, W.B. (1929) Bodily Changes in Pain, Fear and Rape: An Account of Recent Researches into the Function of Emotional Excitement. 2nd edn. Appleton, New YorkGoogle Scholar
Chancellor, L. and Glick, B. (1960) Effect of temperature as a stressor on white blood cells, adrenals and bursae of Fabricius of chicks. American Journal of Physiology 198: 1346–1348CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Claman, H.N. (1975) How steroids work. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 55: 145–151CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davison, T.F. and Flack, I.H. (1981) Changes in the peripheral leucocyte populations following an injection of corticotrophin in the immature chicken. Research in Veterinary Science 30: 79–82CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davison, T.F., Rowell, J.G. and Rea, J. (1983) Effects of dietary corticosterone on peripheral blood lymphocyte and granulocyte populations in immature domestic fowl. Research in Veterinary Science 34: 236–239CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Deaton, J.W., McNaughton, J.L. and Lott, B.D. (1982) Effect of heat stress on laying hens acclimated to cyclic versus constant temperatures. Poultry Science 61: 875–878Google Scholar
De Roos, R.In vitro production of corticosterone by chicken adrenals. Endocrinology 67: 719–721Google Scholar
Dieterlen-Lièvre, F. (1988) Birds. In: Vertebrate Blood Cells (Eds Rowley, A.F. and Ratcliffe, N.A.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 257–336Google Scholar
Dunnington, E.A., Siegel, P.B., Katanbaf, M.N. and Gross, W.B. (1987) Response of early and late feathering broilers to various stressors. Poultry Science 66: 168–170CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Freeman, B.M. (1985) Stress and the domestic fowl: physiological fact or fantasy. World's Poultry Science Journal 41: 45–51CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freeman, B.M., Manning, A.C.C. and Flack, I.H. (1983) Adrenal cortical activity in the domestic fowl, Gallus domesticus, following withdrawal of water or food. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 74A: 639–641CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glick, B. (1958) The effect of cortisone acetate on the leucocyte of young chickens. Poultry Science 37: 1446–1452Google Scholar
Glick, B. (1959) The experimental production of the stress picture with cortisone and the effect of penicillin in young chickens. Ohio Journal of Science 59: 81–86Google Scholar
Glick, B. (1961) The effect of bovine growth hormone, desoxycorticosterone acetate on white blood cells counts of 2-week-old chickens. Poultry Science 40: 1537–1539CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glick, B. (1962) The effect of amphenone in the chicken. Poultry Science 41: 317–321CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gray, H.G., Paradis, T.J. and Chang, P.W. (1989) Physiological effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone and hydrocortisone in laying hens. Poultry Science 68: 1710–1713Google Scholar
Gross, W.B. (1984) Differential and total blood cell counts by the hemocytometer method. Avian/Exotic Practice 1: 31–36Google Scholar
Gross, W.B. (1989) Factors affecting chicken thrombocyte morphology and the relationship with heterophil:lymphocyte ratios. British Poultry Science 30: 919–925CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gross, W.B. (1990) Effect of exposure to a short-duration sound on the stress response of chickens. Avian Disease 34: 759–761CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gross, W.B. and Siegel, H.S. (1983) Evaluation of the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio as a measure of stress in chickens. Avian Diseases 27: 972–979CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gross, W.B. and Siegel, P.B. (1985) Selective breeding of chickens for corticosterone response to social stress. Poultry Science 64: 2230–2233CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gross, W.B. and Siegel, P.B. (1986) Effects of initial and second periods of fasting on heterophil/lymphocyte ratios and body weight. Avian Diseases 30: 345–346CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gross, W.B., Dunnington, E.A. and Siegel, P.B. (1984) Environmental effects on the wellbeing of chickens from lines selected for responses to social strife. Archiv für Geflügelkunde 48: 3–7Google Scholar
Gross, W.B., Siegel, P.B. and Dubose, R.T. (1980) Some effects of feeding corticosterone to chickens. Poultry Science 59: 516–522Google Scholar
Huble, J. (1958) Effect of hormones on endocrine and lympho-epithelial glands in young fowl. Poultry Science 37: 297–300CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, R.B. (1989) Chronic stressors, tonic immobility and leucocytic responses in the domestic fowl. Physiology and Behaviour 46: 439–442CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jones, R.B. (1990) Fearfulness and some physiological consequences of chronic distress in the domestic fowl. Australian Poultry Science Symposium pp. 76–83Google Scholar
Jones, R.B., Beuving, G. and Blokhuis, H.J. (1988) Tonic immobility and heterophil/lymphocyte responses of the domestic fowl to corticosterone infusion. Physiology and Behaviour 42: 249–253CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jones, R.B., Mills, A.D., Williams, J. and Faure, J.M. (1991) Behavioural and physiological responses to isolation in Japanese quail genetically selected for low or high social motivation. Poultry Science 70: (Suppl 1): 61Google Scholar
Juszkiewicz, T. (1967) Experimental Pasteurella multicida infection in chickens exposed to cold: biochemical and bacteriological investigations. Polskie Archivum Weter 10: 616–625Google Scholar
Katanbaf, M.N., Jones, D.E., Dunnington, E.A., Gross, W.B. and Siegel, P.B. (1988) Anatomical and physiological responses of early and late feathering broiler chickens to various feeding regimes. Archiv für Geflügelkunde 52: 119–126Google Scholar
Klasing, K. (1991) Avian inflammatory response: mediation by macrophages. Poultry Science 70: 1176–1186CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lucas, A.M. and Jamroz, C. (1961) Atlas of Avian Hematology. United States Department of Agriculture, WashingtonGoogle Scholar
Mauldin, J.M., Siegel, P.B. and Gross, W.B. (1979) Interfacing genetics, behaviour and husbandry in White Leghorns presented with E. coli challenge. Applied Animal Ethology 5: 347–359CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maxwell, M.H., Hocking, P.M. and Robertson, G.W. (1992) Differential leucocyte responses to various levels of food restrictions in broilers, turkeys and ducks. British Poultry Science 33: 177–187CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maxwell, M.H., Robertson, G.W., Mitchell, M.A. and Carlisle, A.J. (1993) The fine structure of broiler chicken blood cells, with particular reference to basophils, after severe heat stress. Comparative Haematology International (submitted for publication)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maxwell, M.H., Robertson, G.W., Spence, S. and McCorquodale, C.C. (1990) Comparison of haematological values in restricted and ad libitum-fed domestic fowls: white blood cells and thrombocytes. British Poultry Science 31: 399–405CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maxwell, M.H., Robertson, G.W., Anderson, I.A., Dick, L.A. and Lynch, M. (1991) Haematology and histopathology of seven-week-old broilers after early food restriction. Research in Veterinary Science 50: 290–297CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McFarlane, J.M. and Curtis, S.E. (1989) Multiple concurrent stressors in chicks. 3. Effects on plasma corticosterone and the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio. Poultry Science 68: 522–527CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McFarlane, J.M., Curtis, S.E., Simon, J. and Izquierdo, O.A. (1989) Multiple concurrent stressors in chicks. 2. Effects on hematologic, body composition, and pathologic traits. Poultry Science 68: 510–521CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitchell, M.A., Kettlewell, P.J. and Maxwell, M.H. (1992) Indicators of physiological stress in broiler chickens during road transportation. Animal Welfare 1: 91–103Google Scholar
Mitchell, M.A., Maxwell, M.H., Carlisle, A.J. and Robertson, G.W. (1993). Relative basophilia: an index of severe thermal stress in the domestic fowl. Comparative Haematology International (submitted for publication)Google Scholar
Murray, D.L., Brake, J. and Thaxton, J.P. (1987) Effect of adrenocorticotropin and dietary ascorbic acid on cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity to phytohemagglutinin in chickens. Poultry Science 66: 1846–1852CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nair, M.K. (1973) The early inflammatory reaction in the fowl. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, Supplementum 42: 1–103Google Scholar
Newcomer, W.S. (1957) Blood cell changes following ACTH infection in the chick. Proceedings of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine 96: 613–616CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newcomer, W.S. (1958) Physiologic factors that influence acidophilia induced by stressors in the chicken. American Journal of Physiology 194: 251–254CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pardue, S.L. and Thaxton, J.P. (1984) Evidence for amelioration of steriod-mediated immunosuppression by ascorbic acid. Poultry Science 63: 1262–1268CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Regnier, J.A. and Kelley, K.W. (1981) Heat and cold stress suppresses in vivo and in vitro cellular immune responses of chickens. American Journal of Veterinary Research 42: 294–299Google ScholarPubMed
Savory, C.J., Seawright, E. and Watson, A. (1992) Stereotype behaviour in broiler breeders in relation to husbandry and opioid-receptor blockade. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 32: 349–360CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Selye, H. (1937) Studies on adaptation. Endocrinology 21: 169–188CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shapiro, A.B. and Schechtman, A.M. (1949) Effect of adrenal cortical extract on the blood picture and serum proteins of fowl. Proceedings of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine 70: 440–445CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Siegel, H.S. (1968) Blood cells and chemistry of young chickens during daily ACTH and cortisol administration. Poultry Science 47: 1811–1817CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Siegel, H.S. and Gould, N.R. (1982) High temperature and corticosteriod in the lymphocytes of domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus). General and Comparative Endocrinology 48: 348–354CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stamler, J., Bolene, C., Katz, L.N., Harris, R. and Pick, R. (1950) Influence of pancreatectomy on lipid metabolism and atherogenesis in the chick. Federation Proceedings 9: 121Google Scholar
Subba Rao, D.S.V. and Glick, B. (1977) Effect of cold exposure on the immune response in chickens. Poultry Science 56: 992–996CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Niekerk, T., Katanbaf, M.N., Dunnington, E.A. and Siegel, P.B. (1988) Behaviours of early and late feathering broiler breeder hens reared under different feeding regimes. Archiv für Geflügelkunde 52: 230–234Google Scholar
Weller, E.M. and Schechtman, A.M. (1949) Effect of adrenal cortex extract on blood cells of the embryonic chick. Proceedings of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine 72: 370–373CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wolford, J.H. and Ringer, R.K. (1962) Adrenal weight, adrenal ascorbic acid, adrenal cholesterol and differential leucocyte counts as physiological indicators of ‘stressor’ agents in laying hens. Poultry Science 41: 1521–1529CrossRefGoogle Scholar