Social interactions modulate the virulence of avian malaria infection

Larcombe, S. D., Bedhomme, S., Garnier, S., Cellier-Holzem, E., Faivre, B. and Sorci, G. (2013) Social interactions modulate the virulence of avian malaria infection. International Journal for Parasitology, 43(10), pp. 861-867. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.05.008) (PMID:23792297)

Abstract

There is an increasing understanding of the context-dependent nature of parasite virulence. Variation in parasite virulence can occur when infected individuals compete with conspecifics that vary in infection status; virulence may be higher when competing with uninfected competitors. In vertebrates with social hierarchies, we propose that these competition-mediated costs of infection may also vary with social status. Dominant individuals have greater competitive ability than competing subordinates, and consequently may pay a lower prevalence-mediated cost of infection. In this study we investigated whether costs of malarial infection were affected by the occurrence of the parasite in competitors and social status in domestic canaries (Serinus canaria). We predicted that infected subordinates competing with non-infected dominants would pay higher costs than infected subordinates competing with infected dominants. We also predicted that these occurrence-mediated costs of infection would be ameliorated in infected dominant birds. We found that social status and the occurrence of parasites in competitors significantly interacted to change haematocrit in infected birds. Namely, subordinate and dominant infected birds differed in haematocrit depending on the infection status of their competitors. However, in contrast to our prediction, dominants fared better with infected subordinates, whereas subordinates fared better with uninfected dominants. Moreover, we found additional effects of parasite occurrence on mortality in canaries. Ultimately, we provide evidence for costs of parasitism mediated by social rank and the occurrence of parasites in competitors in a vertebrate species. This has important implications for our understanding of the evolutionary processes that shape parasite virulence and group living.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Larcombe, Dr Stephen
• Authors: Larcombe, S. D., Bedhomme, S., Garnier, S., Cellier-Holzem, E., Faivre, B., and Sorci, G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: International Journal for Parasitology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0020-7519
• ISSN (Online): 1879-0135
• Published Online: 20 June 2013
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc.
• First Published: First published in International Journal for Parasitology 43(10): 861-867
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy