Carotenoid-based plumage colouration is associated with blood parasite richness and stress protein levels in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Cerro, Sara del; Merino, Santiago; Puente, Josué Martínez‐de la; Lobato, Elisa; Ruiz-de-Castañeda, Rafael; Aguilar, Juan Rivero de; Martı́nez, Javier; Morales, Judith; Tomás, Gustavo; Moreno, Juan

doi:10.1007/s00442-009-1510-y

Cited by 70 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…We had found a negative relationship between carotenoid concentration and intestinal parasite richness. A similar negative effect for blood parasite richness and carotenoid derived coloration was reported for blue tits (Del Cerro et al, 2010). These effects of parasite richness may have at least two potential explanations: (1) the synergistic or accumulative effects of parasites and/or (2) an effect due to only one or just a few parasite taxons and consequently more likely to occur in an individual with a richer parasite fauna.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Plasma carotenoid levels in passerines are related to infection by (some) parasites

2014

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Plumage coloration plays an important role in intra and inter-sexual competition in birds. Many of the yellow, orange, or red colors present in birds are carotenoid dependent. Carotenoids cannot be synthetized de novo by birds and consequently should be obtained through their diet, and access to carotenoids may differ between individuals and species. In addition to ornamentation, carotenoids are important for bird physiology and it has been proposed that a trade-off in their allocation to these two functions occurs. Under this scenario parasites may play a central role in maintaining the honesty of plumage as a signaling system by increasing the demands for carotenoids for infection or damage control and/or by reducing carotenoid absorption in the intestines. We analyzed the relationship between (1) carotenoid concentrations in plasma and (2) blood and intestinal parasite richness and abundance in 22 species of passerines sampled in spring. Loads of different groups of parasites were unrelated so conclusions drawn from examining a particular group of parasites cannot be extrapolated to the whole community of pathogens and parasites inhabiting a host. At intraspecific level plasma carotenoid concentration was negatively related to the richness of intestinal parasites and the abundance of some groups of intestinal parasites, at interspecific level plasma carotenoid concentration was negatively related with the abundance of intestinal parasites. No relationship at intra-nor interspecific level was found between carotenoids and blood parasites. The results suggest that intestinal parasites play an important role in the evolution and maintenance of carotenoid-derived sexually selected ornamentations probably through a negative impact on the uptake of carotenoids at the gut.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Plasma carotenoid levels in passerines are related to infection by (some) parasites

2014

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“…It is believed to be one of the main vectors of avian malaria parasites, and over 50 different genetic lineages have been detected in this mosquito species using molecular methods [14, 19]. To assess vector competence, mosquitoes were allowed to feed on wild birds naturally infected by Haemoproteus and birds co-infected by Haemoproteus and Plasmodium (individuals suffering co-infections are commonly found in the wild) [20–22]. After allowing the parasite to develop in the mosquito, we used molecular tools (PCR) to detect the presence of parasite DNA in the head-thorax (where the salivary glands are located) and saliva of mosquitoes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do mosquitoes transmit the avian malaria-like parasite Haemoproteus? An experimental test of vector competence using mosquito saliva

et al. 2016

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BackgroundThe life-cycle of many vector-borne pathogens includes an asexual replication phase in the vertebrate host and sexual reproduction in the insect vector. However, as only a small array of parasites can successfully develop infective phases inside an insect, few insect species are competent vectors for these pathogens. Molecular approaches have identified the potential insect vectors of blood parasites under natural conditions. However, the effectiveness of this methodology for verifying mosquito competence in the transmission of avian malaria parasites and related haemosporidians is still under debate. This is mainly because positive amplifications of parasite DNA in mosquitoes can be obtained not only from sporozoites, the infective phase of the malaria parasites that migrate to salivary glands, but also from different non-infective parasite forms in the body of the vector. Here, we assessed the vectorial capacity of the common mosquito Culex pipiens in the transmission of two parasite genera.MethodsA total of 1,560 mosquitoes were allowed to feed on five house sparrows Passer domesticus naturally infected by Haemoproteus or co-infected by Haemoproteus/Plasmodium. A saliva sample of the mosquitoes that survived after 13 days post-exposure was taken to determine the presence of parasite DNA by PCR.ResultsOverall, 31.2% mosquito’s head-thorax and 5.8% saliva samples analysed showed positive amplifications for avian malaria parasites. In contrast to Haemoproteus DNA, which was not found in either the body parts or the saliva, Plasmodium DNA was detected in both the head-thorax and the saliva of mosquitoes. Parasites isolated from mosquitoes feeding on the same bird corresponded to the same Plasmodium lineage.ConclusionsOur experiment provides good evidence for the competence of Cx. pipiens in the transmission of Plasmodium but not of Haemoproteus. Molecular analyses of saliva are an effective method for testing the vector competence of mosquitoes and other insects in the transmission of vector-borne pathogens.

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“…Moreover, black fly saliva produces an (Bennett, 1961;Valkiūnas, 2005). These blood parasites infect pied flycatcher nestlings in central Spain (Merino and Potti, 1995;Lobato et al, 2005) and multiple infections could be more virulent than single ones (Marzal et al, 2008;del Cerro et al, 2010). Obviously, the effects of the interaction between vectors and parasites on birds merit further studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest-climatic factors affect the abundance of biting flies and their effects on nestling condition

et al. 2010

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The first step in the establishment of a hostebiting fly relationship is host location. While a number of studies highlight the role of host emitted products as important cues affecting host location by biting flies, the role of host temperature is far from clear. We investigated the role of different nest microclimatic variables affecting the interaction between pied flycatchers and two biting flies: black flies and biting midges. Biting midge abundances increased with temperature inside the nest, supporting the potential importance of nest temperature as a cue used by insects to localize their hosts. The possibility that biting fly infestations were associated to ecological conditions in the vicinity of the nests is also discussed. Furthermore, we found a negative association between nestling weight (including tarsus length as a covariate in the analyses) and the interaction between the abundance of biting midges and the presence/ absence of black flies in nests. The potential negative effect of these ectoparasites on nestling weight (condition index) and potential differences in the bird phenotypic/genetic quality associated with nest site choice and parasite infestations are considered..

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Carotenoid-based plumage colouration is associated with blood parasite richness and stress protein levels in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Cited by 70 publications

References 85 publications

Plasma carotenoid levels in passerines are related to infection by (some) parasites

Plasma carotenoid levels in passerines are related to infection by (some) parasites

Do mosquitoes transmit the avian malaria-like parasite Haemoproteus? An experimental test of vector competence using mosquito saliva

Nest-climatic factors affect the abundance of biting flies and their effects on nestling condition

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