Intensity of parasitic nematodes increases with organochlorine levels in the glaucous gull

摘要: Summary 1. Organochlorines probably suppress immune functions in birds and mammals, but few field assessments are available. If establishment and/or survival of parasites is limited by host immunity, we would expect increased parasite intensities animals with high organochlorine burdens, such as the glaucous gull Larus hyperboreus. 2. We collected 40 adult gulls on Bear Island western Barents Sea. Concentrations nine selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB; 28, 52, 99, 101, 118, 138, 153, 170 180) five chlorinated pesticides (hexachlorobenzene, oxychlordane, DDE, DDT Mirex) were measured liver. The abundance 12 species intestinal helminths, including one trematode, six cestodes, four nematodes acanthocephalan, was determined. 3. After controlling for nutritional condition, no single significantly associated concentrations PCB or pesticides. However, intensity all grouped together positively correlated 10 14 measured. strongest correlations p,p′-DDT, Mirex, Σ9PCB, congeners 180. 4. Although correlative absence immunological data, these data do not refute hypothesis that organochlorines might affect avian function.