Haematological analysis of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in the area affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Abstract

Several populations of wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) inhabit the area around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP). To measure and control the size of these populations, macaques are captured annually. Between May 2013 and December 2014, we performed a haematological analysis of Japanese macaques captured within a 40-km radius of FNPP, the location of a nuclear disaster two years post-accident. The dose-rate of radiocaesium was estimated using the ERICA Tool. The median internal dose-rate was 7.6 μGy/day (ranging from 1.8 to 219 μGy/day) and the external dose-rate was 13.9 μGy/day (ranging from 6.7 to 35.1 μGy/day). We performed multiple regression analyses to estimate the dose-rate effects on haematological values in peripheral blood and bone marrow. The white blood cell and platelet counts showed an inverse correlation with the internal dose-rate in mature macaques. Furthermore, the myeloid cell, megakaryocyte, and haematopoietic cell counts were inversely correlated and the occupancy of adipose tissue was positively correlated with internal dose-rate in femoral bone marrow of mature macaques. These relationships suggest that persistent whole body exposure to low-dose-rate radiation affects haematopoiesis in Japanese macaques.

Rewilding of Fukushima's human evacuation zone

“…]; hematopoiesis in macaques [ Macaca fuscata ; Urushihara et al . ]); and reproductive effects (in goshawks [ Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae ; Murase et al . ]).…”

Simian immunodeficiency virus infection and flow cytometric characterization of Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) hematopoietic cells

“…7,19,20 Our results should help to extend the use of Japanese macaques as models for human hematological and immunological disorders and infectious diseases. [5][6][7]9…”

“…This study is limited by the lack of experiments with in vivo SIV infection, but the data presented here should be a starting point for discussions on how to best utilize Japanese macaques for the analysis of hematopoietic cells in health and disease, and in ethological, physiological, and neurological investigations . Our results should help to extend the use of Japanese macaques as models for human hematological and immunological disorders and infectious diseases …”

“…Phenomena such as CD4 + T‐cell depletion, persistent viral replication, and chronic immune activation are common to both infections . Japanese macaques ( Macaca fuscata ) are also of considerable interest partly because of their genetic similarity to rhesus macaques, and it is probable that more extensive use of the species in biomedical research will be made . In this study, we characterized Japanese macaque hematopoietic cells using flow cytometry.…”

“…3 Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) are also of considerable interest partly because of their genetic similarity to rhesus macaques, and it is probable that more extensive use of the species in biomedical research will be made. [4][5][6][7][8][9] In this study, we characterized Japanese macaque hematopoietic cells using flow cytometry.…”