Data from: Genome-wide expression reveals multiple systemic effects associated with detection of anticoagulant poisons in bobcats (Lynx rufus)

Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are indiscriminate toxicants that threaten non-target 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 leukocyte 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.

抗凝血杀鼠剂（Anticoagulant rodenticides, ARs）是一类无选择性的毒物，可通过次级中毒途径对非靶标捕食者与食腐动物种群构成威胁。日益增多的研究证据表明，抗凝血杀鼠剂暴露可能会对个体造成破坏性的亚致死效应，进而影响其生存适合度。本研究针对加利福尼亚南部的短尾猫种群，评估了抗凝血杀鼠剂暴露对其全基因组表达谱的影响，鉴定出与异生物质代谢、内质网应激反应、上皮完整性维持以及适应性免疫与先天免疫功能相关的差异表达基因。进一步研究发现，免疫相关基因的差异表达可能源于抗凝血杀鼠剂对白细胞分化的影响。综上，本研究结果为理解抗凝血杀鼠剂暴露对野生食肉动物的亚致死效应提供了前所未有的认知视角。上述研究结果凸显了抗凝血杀鼠剂对全球范围内所有可能取食中毒啮齿类动物的众多物种的潜在危害，同时指出亟需开展人类向自然环境中排放的其他有毒物质对基因表达影响的相关研究。