Effects of Coccidial and Mycoplasmal Infections on Carotenoid-Based Plumage Pigmentation in Male House Finches

Brawner, William R.; Hill, Geoffrey E.; Sundermann, Christine A.

doi:10.1642/0004-8038(2000)117[0952:eocami]2.0.co;2

Cited by 154 publications

(110 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…These findings support the idea that sexual displays may signal male infection status as already observed in some biological models (e.g. Hill & Brawner 1998;Brawner et al 2000;Horak et al 2004;Martinez-Padilla et al 2007). Previous studies, including in blackbirds, that used antigenic challenges provided direct support for the idea that immune defences and sexual signals compete for carotenoids (Blount et al 2003;Faivre et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…1 day before the start of supplementation with carotenoids and the inoculation with isosporan oocysts), 7, 14, 21 and 28. Faeces were sampled in the afternoon because blackbirds infected with Isospora show a diurnal periodicity of oocyst elimination, with a peak in the late afternoon (as in many passerines, Brawner et al 2000;Misof 2004). The collected faecal samples were weighed (G0.01 g) with an electronic balance (Scout Pro) and placed in a 50 ml Falcon tube.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many correlative studies have supported this trade-off hypothesis and have reported negative relationships between carotenoid-based coloration and parasitism in both fishes and birds (Milinski & Bakker 1990;Zuk et al 1990;Houde & Torio 1992;Thompson et al 1997;Brawner et al 2000;McGraw & Hill 2000;Møller et al 2000). In addition, previous experimental studies using parasites have found that (i) controlled infections reduce the expression of carotenoid-based ornamentation (Hill & Brawner 1998;Brawner et al 2000;Horak et al 2004), (ii) parasite eradication positively affects carotenoidbased ornamentation (Martinez-Padilla et al 2007), and (iii) expression level of ornaments may indicate males' ability to clear parasite infection (Lindströ m & Lundström 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In addition, previous experimental studies using parasites have found that (i) controlled infections reduce the expression of carotenoid-based ornamentation (Hill & Brawner 1998;Brawner et al 2000;Horak et al 2004), (ii) parasite eradication positively affects carotenoidbased ornamentation (Martinez-Padilla et al 2007), and (iii) expression level of ornaments may indicate males' ability to clear parasite infection (Lindströ m & Lundström 2000). Furthermore, newly developed methods, which allow measurement of the magnitude of the immune response to various antigens (see Adamo (2004) for a review), made it possible to identify a positive relationship between carotenoid-based coloration and various immune effectors (Blount et al 2003;McGraw & Ardia 2003 and references therein), and have also shown that immune defence and sexual attractiveness are constrained by carotenoid availability (Blount et al 2003;Grether et al 2004;McGraw & Ardia 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Carotenoid trade-off between parasitic resistance and sexual display: an experimental study in the blackbird ( Turdus merula )

et al. 2007

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Many parasites depress the expression of the carotenoid-based colour displays of their hosts, and it has been hypothesized that animals face a trade-off in carotenoid allocation between immune functions and 'degree of ornamentation'. While numerous correlative studies suggest that parasite infection decreases the intensity of carotenoid-based colour displays, the existence of this trade-off has never been demonstrated experimentally in a host-parasite model. In this study, we used the blackbird (Turdus merula) and Isospora (an intestinal parasite) to assess whether this trade-off does indeed exist. Blackbirds were supplemented with carotenoids while simultaneously being exposed to parasites. Supplemented males circulated more carotenoids in the blood and developed more brightly coloured bills than unsupplemented males. In addition, supplementation slowed down the replication rate of parasites. Supplementation with carotenoids enabled infected birds to maintain their bill coloration, whereas birds that were infected but not supplemented showed reduced bill coloration. At the same time, infection slowed carotenoid assimilation in the blood. Overall, we demonstrated that bill colour reflects a bird's health, and that only males with a carotenoid-rich diet are capable of coping with costs associated with parasitic infection. Carotenoids are thus traded off between host physiological response to parasites and secondary sexual traits. Further investigations are required to determine the physiological mechanisms that govern this trade-off.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Carotenoid trade-off between parasitic resistance and sexual display: an experimental study in the blackbird ( Turdus merula )

et al. 2007

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“…By November of that year, the prevalence of conjunctivitis in this population had decreased to 2 to 4%. A similar pattern of disease was observed the following year when conjunctivitis again peaked in September and October, although a smaller percentage of the birds (23%) were symptomatic in the peak months (Brawner, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Characterization of the Mycoplasmal Conjunctivitis Epizootic in a House Finch Population in the Southeastern Usa

Roberts

Nolan

Lauerman

et al. 2001

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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An epidemiological study of the prevalence of mycoplasmal conjunctivitis in the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) was conducted in Auburn (Alabama, USA) between March 1998 and February 1999. Clinical disease was observed in 4% of the 1,214 finches trapped and examined. This rate is comparable to the average annual prevalence observed in this population since 1996, although the prevalence of clinical disease observed in the peak months of September through November was lower than in previous years. Clinically ill birds were observed in all months of the study. To estimate the prevalence of recovering and asymptomatic, infected birds, we tested a subset of 334 house finches serologically for exposure to Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) using the serum plate agglutination (SPA) assay. The prevalence of clinical disease in this subsample was slightly higher (7%) than in the entire sample, reflecting the fact that the serological survey was initiated in the late summer when the prevalence of MG infection peaks in our study population and a sampling bias for symptomatic birds. The serological survey indicated that 13% of this subpopulation had been exposed to MG. We also tested 46 of 334 finches by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect MG in seropositive, asymptomatic birds. Use of the PCR in conjunction with the SPA detected six asymptomatic, infected birds that may represent potential carriers or birds in the early stages of infection. The decreasing prevalence of clinical disease observed during the peak months suggests a changing host-parasite relationship. Continued surveillance of this population, employing both clinical observation and serological analysis will be useful in characterizing these changes over time.

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Mycoplasmosis

Luttrell¹,

Fischer²

2007

Infectious Diseases of Wild Birds

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Effects of Coccidial and Mycoplasmal Infections on Carotenoid-Based Plumage Pigmentation in Male House Finches

Cited by 154 publications

References 47 publications

Carotenoid trade-off between parasitic resistance and sexual display: an experimental study in the blackbird ( Turdus merula )

Carotenoid trade-off between parasitic resistance and sexual display: an experimental study in the blackbird ( Turdus merula )

Characterization of the Mycoplasmal Conjunctivitis Epizootic in a House Finch Population in the Southeastern Usa

Mycoplasmosis

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