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Effect of parasites on haematological traits in vertebrates
Vacková, Julie ; Vinkler, Michal (advisor) ; Svobodová, Jana (referee)
Deviation out of homeostasis is reflected by physiological stress and altered immunological activity leading to changes in blood composition. Haematological examination may reveal deflection from the long-term optimum-the state of health. Haematological changes associated with parasitism are in some cases so distinctive that they allow the estimation of the parasite type affecting the host health. I aim to summarise basic methods utilised in veterinary haematology and evaluate the influence of individual groups of parasites on haematological parameters related to red and white blood cells. In vertebrates the most significant haematological changes are caused by multicellular endoparasites. Typical is eosinophilia and increased total leucocyte count. Ectoparasites are usually responsible for decrease in erythrocytes and increase in leucocytes. Extracellular bacteria increase total neutrophil and lymphocyte counts while intracellular bacteria cause decrease in all blood cell types. Viruses often decrease number of erythrocytes and leucocytes and change neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. Changes in the haematological parameters caused by protists are difficult to generalize and not much is presently known about the influence of fungi on the blood composition in vertebrates. Variation in the effect of...
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Changes in expression of immune-related genes after induction of inflammation in birds
Pojezdná, Anežka ; Vinkler, Michal (advisor) ; Chudíčková, Milada (referee)
Inflammation is one of the most important immunological mechanisms that protect animals from diseases. In my thesis I summarized information on changes in gene expression in tissues in the course of the inflammatory immune response in birds. I tried to describe the main features of the immune response in birds and highlight the differences to other vertebrates, especially mammals. I focused mainly on the surface molecules of various types of immune cells, as well as on signalling by soluble factors called cytokines. Although in general features are the inflammatory reactions in birds and mammals similar, in my thesis I have shown that a large portion of mediators and signalling molecules work very differently in these two vertebrate groups (e. g. the TNF SF-mediated pro-inflammatory signalling) and that substantial variation many be found even between different species of birds. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Impact of Toll-like receptor 4 polymorphism on pro-inflammatory responsiveness in great tit (Parus major)
Vinklerová, Jitka ; Bryja, Josef (advisor) ; Černý, Jan (referee)
Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) belongs among chief bacteria-sensing Pattern recognition receptors. Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) recognition by TLR4 triggers signalling leading to release of cytokines that direct leukocyte infiltration into the inflammatory site and cause swelling. Effector mechanisms that ensure pathogen elimination include phagocytosis and oxidative burst. It has been repeatedly reported that the polymorphism in TLR4 may affect host resistance to various diseases. TLR4 may be, therefore, an important molecule in host-parasite co-evolution. Herein, I focused on TLR4 amino acid substitution Q549R which is associated with ornamentation in great tits. In tits I describe immune responsiveness to LPS stimulation on morphological and molecular level and examine effects of the Q549R substitution on inflammation and general body condition. In LPS- treated individuals I found decrease in heterophil-lymphocyte ratio (H/L) that might be caused by attraction of the blood-borne cells into the inflamed tissue. This is in striking contrast with increase in H/L in PBS-treated animals resulting from the stress response. There was no effect of Q549R on general condition and haematological parameters but I revealed a significant effect of the interaction between host Q549R genotype and the type...
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Application of Haematological Methods in Zoological Studies
Poplová, Jitka ; Vinkler, Michal (advisor) ; Krulová, Magdaléna (referee)
Haematological methods are widely used in zoological researches. Unfortunately, especially in ecological studies there is often much imperfection in techniques adopted, and misinterpretation of results is also common. This is particularly the case of methods serving to assessment of the peripheral blood cellular composition. In this thesis I therefore decided to describe basic haematological methods, their mechanisms, advantages and disadvantages. I also highlighted possible application potential in several less widely utilised haematological techniques. In the practical part of this thesis I have shown that the examination of immature erythrocyte differential count may serve as a meaningful indicator of health state in birds.
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