Annual variation of immune condition in the Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix)

Acquarone, Camilla; Cucco, Marco; Malacarne, Giorgio

doi:10.1007/bf02465485

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…These findings are important for studies examining intraspecific variation in spleen size or leukocyte differentials in the context of immunocompetence. For instance, it is sometimes assumed that large spleens indicate the host's ability to produce strong immune response (e.g., Møller and Erritzøe 2000;Hosken and O'Shea 2001;Acquarone et al 2002; but see Shutler et al 1999;Smith and Hunt 2004). Our results clearly show that at least in larval toxocariasis, large spleens do not indicate efficient parasite clearance ability because individuals who were least resistant to infection developed the largest immune defense organs.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 54%

Predictors and markers of resistance to neurotropic nematode infection in rodent host

2006

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Parasite-mediated selection is currently believed to play an important role in life-history evolution. To assess how simple hematoserological and biochemical condition indices reflect host immunocompetence and infection resistance controlled laboratory experiments are required. We addressed these issues by infecting laboratory rats with the standard dose of embryonated eggs of a neurotropic nematode Toxocara canis. Urine baseline corticosterone concentrations, measured 1 week before infection, predicted the number of nematode larvae later recovered from host brains. Thus, this noninvasive clinical marker appeared useful for assessment of potential infection resistance. Rats who had accumulated high number of larvae in their brains and muscle had large spleens and high peripheral eosinophil counts 17 days postinfection. This finding is consistent with the concept that induction of eosinophilic Th2 type humoral immune response benefits the parasite rather than host. Hence, excessive peripheral eosinophilia and spleen enlargement are not markers of efficient antiparasite response in larval toxocariasis.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 54%

Predictors and markers of resistance to neurotropic nematode infection in rodent host

2006

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“…This is the more surprising, since annual differences in overall immunological condition due to varying degrees of environmentally or socially induced stress are prone to influence the currently intensely studied trade-off between reproduction and immune function. Acquarone et al (2002) investigated annual variation of immune condition in the hooded crow (Corvus corone cornix) for three years and found significant among-year variation with respect to albumin and immunoglobulin values, but no significant differences among years with respect to haematological parameters including the proportion of heterophils and lymphocytes as well as the H/L ratio. However, in contrast to our study on red bishops, Acquarone et al (2002) stated that there were no significant annual variations with respect to both population density and climate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Acquarone et al (2002) investigated annual variation of immune condition in the hooded crow (Corvus corone cornix) for three years and found significant among-year variation with respect to albumin and immunoglobulin values, but no significant differences among years with respect to haematological parameters including the proportion of heterophils and lymphocytes as well as the H/L ratio. However, in contrast to our study on red bishops, Acquarone et al (2002) stated that there were no significant annual variations with respect to both population density and climate. The five breeding seasons of our study were characterised by considerable annual variations both with regard to overall breeding activity (as measured in terms of total number of nests accepted and total number of eggs laid within a season) and with regard to rainfall (see also Friedl, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Stress-dependent trade-off Between Immunological Condition and Reproductive Performance in the Polygynous Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

Friedl

Edler

2005

Evol Ecol

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According to life-history theory, a condition-dependent trade-off between reproductive performance and immune function might be expected, with only superior individuals being able to allocate many resources into reproduction without having detrimental effects on their immune system. However, little attention has been paid to the possibility that annual variations in environmentally and socially induced stress levels modify this trade-off. We analysed haematological parameters and investigated the relationship between male immunological condition and reproductive performance as measured by reproductive effort and success in a colony of the highly polygynous red bishop (Euplectes orix) for five consecutive breeding seasons. Haematological parameters can be used to assess an individuals' stress level, and especially the heterophile/lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio) is known to increase in response to a wide variety of stressors. Relative basophile counts, heterophile counts, lymphocyte counts, absolute leukocyte counts and H/L ratios of territorial males varied significantly among seasons. Both relative heterophile counts and H/L ratios were significantly positive related to overall breeding activity within the colony as measured in terms of total number of nests accepted and total number of eggs laid in the study colony within a breeding season. The relationship between immunological condition (as assessed by relative lymphocyte and heterophil counts and the H/L ratio) and both male reproductive effort (as measured by the number of nests built by the territorial males) and reproductive success (as measured by the number of nests accepted) varied considerably among seasons, ranging from significant negative to significant positive correlations. Across seasons, we found a significant negative relationship between the within-season correlation coefficients of individual H/L ratios against reproductive performance and the average H/L ratio of all territorial males in that season. Thus, a positive association between the immunological condition of a male and his reproductive performance (indicated by a negative correlation between H/L ratio and reproductive performance) exists only in seasons with high average H/L ratios (i.e. high average stress levels). We conclude that the trade-off between immunological condition and male reproductive performance might be important only in seasons with an overall reduced level of male immunological condition due to environmentally and/or socially induced stress and immunosuppressive conditions.

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The blood picture and serum biochemistry profile of the African pied crow (Corvus albus)

2010

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Annual variation of immune condition in the Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix)

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

Predictors and markers of resistance to neurotropic nematode infection in rodent host

Predictors and markers of resistance to neurotropic nematode infection in rodent host

Stress-dependent trade-off Between Immunological Condition and Reproductive Performance in the Polygynous Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

The blood picture and serum biochemistry profile of the African pied crow (Corvus albus)

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