Harbour seals as top predators and indicators for ecosystem health are exposed to increasing pressure caused by anthropogenic activities in their marine environment. After their lactation period of about 24 days pups are weaned and left to hunt on their own. Little is known about the development of their immune system and a better understanding of anthropogenic impacts on the general health and immune system of harbour seal pups is needed. mRNA transcription of six immuno-relevant biomarkers was analysed in 13 abandoned harbour seal pups from the North Sea, fostered at the Seal Centre Friedrichskoog, Germany. RNAlater blood samples were taken at admission, day 22 and before release and analysed using RT-qPCR. Significant differences in HSP70, cytokine IL-2 and xenobiotic biomarkers AHR, ARNT and PPARα transcription were found between admission, during rehabilitation and before release. Highest levels at admission may result from dehydration, handling, transport and contaminant exposure via lactation. The significant decrease is linked to health improvement, feeding and adaptation. The increase before release is suspected to be due to infection pressure and contaminant exposure from feeding on fish. Molecular biomarkers are a sensitive tool to evaluate health and pollutant exposure and useful to serve as early warning indicators, monitoring and case-by-case tool for marine mammals in human care and the wild.
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