Adyghe Int. Sci. J. Vol. 25, No. 2. Pp. 57–65.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.47928/1726-9946-2025-25-2-57-65
EDN: DEHMJQ
ECOLOGY
| UDC 599.323 | Original Article |
Immunological parameters of blood of the small forest mouse (Apodemus uralensis Pallas) in the conditions
of the foothills of the Central Caucasus
Marita Mukhamedovna Emkuzheva
candidate of biological sciences, senior researcher of the laboratory of ecology and evolution of vertebrate animals, Tembotov Institute of ecology of mountain territories, Russian Academy of Sciences (360051, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Nalchik, 37a I. Armand str.), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4278-3325, emkugeva_m@mail.ru
Zoya Adibovna Bersekova
Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Vertebrates, A. K. Tembotov Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories, Russian Academy of Sciences (360051, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Nalchik, I. Armand St., 37a), iemt@mail.ru
Abstract. The immune system is the most sensitive to environmental changes and plays a key role in providing the body’s defenses. The aim of this work is to use immunological indices to evaluate the condition of two foothill samples of Apodemus uralensis originating from different altitudes. The object of the study (Apodemus uralensis Pall.) is a rodent species widespread in the Caucasus, which often dominates small mammal communities here. The studies were conducted in the foothills of two zonality variants of theCentral Caucasus (Kabardino-Balkarian Republic): the vicinity of Nalchik (Terek variant, forest-steppe belt, 500 m above sea level) and the vicinity of Psynadakha village (Elbrus variant, meadow steppe belt, 700 m above sea level). The content of leukocytes in 1 mkl of blood and the leukocyte count were studied using classical hematological methods. The obtained results indicate that despite a small difference in altitude (only 200 m), there are significant differences in the number of leukocytes and the leukocyte formula of the studied samples of the pygmy wood mouse, which may be evidence of the peculiarities of the body’s immune defense. The content of leukocytes in the peripheral blood of the two studied samples is low. A comparative analysis of the content of leukocytes in the blood revealed their decrease in the sample from the vicinity of the village of Psynadakha. In the leukogram of two foothill samples of the pygmy wood mouse, the lymphocytic profile of the blood is expressed. At the same time, individuals from the vicinity of the village of Psynadakha (Elbrus variant, 700 m above sea level) have a lower content of monocytes, which is expressed in females at the level of a tendency, and in males it reaches reliable values. This gives reason to believe that non-specific antibacterial protection is enhanced. Given that the immune system of animals from both samples functions without stress.
Keywords: Central Caucasus, Apodemus uralensis, foothills, adaptation, leukocytes, lymphocytes.
Funding. The work was not carried out within the framework of funds.
Competing interests. There are no conflicts of interest regarding authorship and publication.
Contribution and Responsibility. All authors contributed to this article. Authors are solely responsible for providing the final version of the article in print.
For citation. Emkuzheva M. M., Bersekova Z. A. Immunological parameters of blood of the small forest mouse (Apodemus uralensis Pallas) in the conditions of the foothills of the Central Caucasus. Adyghe Int. Sci. J. 2025. Vol. 25, No. 2. Pp. 57–65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47928/1726-9946-2025-25-2-57-65; EDN: DEHMJQ
Submitted 10.06.2025; approved after reviewing 23.06.2025; accepted for publication 24.06.2025.
© Emkuzheva M. M.,
Bersekova Z. A., 2025
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