Data from: Resveratrol supplementation reduces oxidative stress and modulates the immune response in free-living animals during a viral infection

1. Diet quality may have an important effect on the regulation of
oxidative status and the immune system during an infectious disease.
However, the relationship among intake of specific dietary molecules, an
individual’s oxidative status and the occurrence and progress of a viral
disease remains almost unexplored in free-living organisms. 2. Here, we
study a wild, long-lived animal, the Magnificent frigatebird Fregata
magnificens to investigate: i) the differences in a number of
physiological traits (biomarkers of blood oxidative status, corticosterone
(CORT), immunity, and inflammation) between sick and healthy nestlings;
and ii) whether experimentally increased intake of resveratrol (a
polyphenol with antioxidant and antiviral properties) affects these
physiological markers during the progress of a severe viral disease. 3.
Birds with visible clinical signs showed higher oxidative damage,
hemolysis and hemagglutination scores, and lower antioxidant defenses in
comparison to birds without clinical signs. At the end of the experiment,
supplemented birds showed: i) increased plasma haptoglobin levels and
circulating antioxidant defenses; ii) reduced generation of lipid
oxidative damage; and iii) negligible to no influence on immune markers,
baseline CORT levels, and activity of antioxidant enzymes. 4. Our work
illustrates how the availability of specific organic molecules in the diet
may constrain the individuals’ capacity to cope with viral infections in
free-living animals.