Immunocompetence and helminth community of the white-toothed shrew, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crocidura russula</Emphasis> from the Montseny Natural Park,Spain |
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Authors: | Joëlle Goüy de Bellocq Alexis Ribas Juan Carlos Casanova Serge Morand |
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Institution: | (1) Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations (CBGP), Campus International de Baillarguet, CS 30016, 34988, Montferrier-sur-Lez, Cedex, France;(2) Laboratori de Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;(3) Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution—CNRS, Département Génétique Environnement, CC065, Université Montpellier 2, 34095 Montpellier cedex 05, France;(4) Present address: Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna Savoyenstr.1, 1160 Vienna, Austria |
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Abstract: | Host immunocompetence assessed by spleen size and response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) injection may give some indications
on the control of parasite infection and on host mediation effect, through immunity, on parasite community structure. We investigated
the helminth community and immunocompetence of the white-toothed shrew in a small area to test the relationship between immunocompetence
and intensity of helminth infection. At the proximate level and if spleen mass and PHA response reflect the level of immunocompetence,
we expected that individuals with a large spleen or a high PHA response should harbour a lower parasite load than individuals
with relatively small spleen or low PHA response. In addition, we predicted that the structure of the helminth community should
be mediated by the host’s immune defence. Spleen mass was linked to helminth infection. Nematodes and cestodes were negatively
associated within hosts. PHA response was not related to total helminth intensity of infection but was negatively related
to cestode intensity and positively to nematode intensity. This result suggests either a differential modulating effect on
immunity by the two groups of worms or the existence of an antagonistic association between nematodes and cestodes mediated
by the immune response of the host. |
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Keywords: | Spleen mass PHA response Nematode Cestode Parasite association |
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