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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Animals

Leukocyte Profiles in Breeding Female and Pup Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) in Relation to Lactation and Body Condition

  • Pablo Descayrac1
  • Coraline Bichet2
  • Jérôme Badaut2
  • Baptiste Picard2
  • Christophe Guinet2
  • Jordi López-Ramon1,3
  • Victor Lizana3
  • Caroline Gilbert4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Servicio de Análisis, Investigación, Gestión de Animales Silvestres (SAIGAS), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Spain.
  2. 2Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 La Rochelle Université-CNRS, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France.
  3. 3Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
  4. 4Laboratoire MECADEV, UMR 7179, CNRS/MNHN, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France.
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Abstract

This study analyzed blood smears from southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) adult females and pups. White blood cell profiles (total WBC count (WBC/10⁴RBC) and the relative percentages (%) of neutrophiles, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, as well as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio)) were compared between pups and adult females, according to sex and lactation phase (beginning and end of lactation). Additionally, relationships between WBC variables and body condition were examined, as well as those between maternal WBC variables and their pups' body condition. Adult females had more neutrophils and higher N/L ratios, but fewer lymphocytes, compared to pups. Between the beginning and the end of lactation, WBC total count increased in adult females. In females at end of lactation, lymphocytes increased with body condition while neutrophils decreased. No relationships were found between pups' WBC variables and their body condition, or between maternal WBC variables and their pups' body condition. In pups, no differences were seen between male and female in WBC variables. This study provides valuable insight into the immune compartment of this species. More studies are needed to improve our understanding of the physiology of southern elephant seals and its potential fitness consequences.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{descayrac2026leukocyte,
  title = {{Leukocyte Profiles in Breeding Female and Pup Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) in Relation to Lactation and Body Condition}},
  author = {Pablo Descayrac and Coraline Bichet and Jérôme Badaut and Baptiste Picard and Christophe Guinet and Jordi López-Ramon and Victor Lizana and Caroline Gilbert},
  journal = {Animals},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/ani16203304},
  url = {https://hal.science/hal-05837187v1},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Leukocyte Profiles in Breeding Female and Pup Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) in Relation to Lactation and Body Condition
AU  - Pablo Descayrac
AU  - Coraline Bichet
AU  - Jérôme Badaut
AU  - Baptiste Picard
AU  - Christophe Guinet
AU  - Jordi López-Ramon
AU  - Victor Lizana
AU  - Caroline Gilbert
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/20
JO  - Animals
DO  - 10.3390/ani16203304
UR  - https://hal.science/hal-05837187v1
AB  - This study analyzed blood smears from southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) adult females and pups. White blood cell profiles (total WBC count (WBC/10⁴RBC) and the relative percentages (%) of neutrophiles, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, as well as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio)) were compared between pups and adult females, according to sex and lactation phase (beginning and end of lactation). Additionally, relationships between WBC variables and body condition were examined, as well as those between maternal WBC variables and their pups' body condition. Adult females had more neutrophils and higher N/L ratios, but fewer lymphocytes, compared to pups. Between the beginning and the end of lactation, WBC total count increased in adult females. In females at end of lactation, lymphocytes increased with body condition while neutrophils decreased. No relationships were found between pups' WBC variables and their body condition, or between maternal WBC variables and their pups' body condition. In pups, no differences were seen between male and female in WBC variables. This study provides valuable insight into the immune compartment of this species. More studies are needed to improve our understanding of the physiology of southern elephant seals and its potential fitness consequences.
SN  - 2076-2615
ER  -