Genome‐wide expression reveals multiple systemic effects associated with detection of anticoagulant poisons in bobcats (Lynx rufus) |
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| Authors: | Devaughn Fraser Laurel E K Serieys Steve Cole Scott Carver Sue Vandewoude Michael Lappin Seth PD Riley Robert Wayne |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USAThese authors contributed equally.;2. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA;3. Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa;4. Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA;5. Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA;6. School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia;7. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA;8. Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA;9. National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA |
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| Abstract: | Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are indiscriminate toxicants that threaten nontarget predatory and scavenger species through secondary poisoning. Accumulating evidence suggests that AR exposure may have disruptive sublethal consequences on individuals that can affect fitness. We evaluated AR‐related effects on genome‐wide expression patterns in a population of bobcats in southern California. We identify differential expression of genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum stress response, epithelial integrity and both adaptive and innate immune function. Further, we find that differential expression of immune‐related genes may be attributable to AR‐related effects on leucocyte differentiation. Collectively, our results provide an unprecedented understanding of the sublethal effects of AR exposure on a wild carnivore. These findings highlight potential detrimental effects of ARs on a wide variety of species worldwide that may consume poisoned rodents and indicate the need to investigate gene expression effects of other toxicants added to natural environments by humans. |
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| Keywords: | anticoagulant rodenticides bobcats gene expression secondary poisoning |
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