Relationship between Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) sperm quality and level of parasitism

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between parasite infection rates and reproductive function in wild Iberian ibexes. The animals examined were 43 adult males shot during the rutting season. Gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematodes, intestinal cestodes and intestinal coccidia were determined by coprological analysis. Protozoa in the muscles were detected by biopsy. Epididymal spermatozoa were collected from recovered testes. Sperm motility, the integrity of the plasma membrane, sperm viability, sperm morphology and acrosome integrity were all evaluated. Bronchopulmonary nematode larvae were detected with a prevalence of 100% (mean intensity 216.8±65.8; index of dispersion 476.1, indicating an aggregated pattern). A negative correlation (R=-0.39; P<0.05) was found between the shedding of larval lungworms and the percentage of sperm morphological abnormalities. Although directional relationships could not be identified, the present findings suggest that reproductive effort imposes a cost in terms of depressed parasite resistance.

Negative effect of the arthropod parasite, Sarcoptes scabiei, on testes mass in Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica

“…What little data concerning wild mammals that exists generally deals with female fecundity (Iason and Boag, 1988;Pence and Windberg, 1994;Neuhaus, 2003;Pioz et al, 2008) or host behavior (Cramer and Cameron, 2007) and there are enormous gaps in our knowledge regarding the effects of parasites on the testes of wild mammals. Recently, Santiago-Moreno et al (2010) examined the relationship between sperm quality and the level of parasitism in Iberian ibex. Nevertheless, all animals examined in their study were selectively hunted for their relatively small horn development and individual phenotypic quality was not considered in their analysis as a potential confounding factor.…”

“…Nevertheless, all animals examined in their study were selectively hunted for their relatively small horn development and individual phenotypic quality was not considered in their analysis as a potential confounding factor. Also, despite some determining factors of testis traits have nonlinear effects and despite testis traits are governed simultaneously by multiple factors (Sarasa et al, 2010b), the most highlighted analysis in the study of Santiago-Moreno et al (2010) looked separately for linear relationships. Moreover, only one from the six sperm variables considered showed a weak relationship with one from the five parasitic classes considered (Santiago-Moreno et al, 2010).…”

“…Also, despite some determining factors of testis traits have nonlinear effects and despite testis traits are governed simultaneously by multiple factors (Sarasa et al, 2010b), the most highlighted analysis in the study of Santiago-Moreno et al (2010) looked separately for linear relationships. Moreover, only one from the six sperm variables considered showed a weak relationship with one from the five parasitic classes considered (Santiago-Moreno et al, 2010). Consequently, like in almost all wild-living mammal species, the relationship between parasites and testes traits has to be deepened in Iberian ibex.…”

Sex-specific selection for MHC variability in Alpine chamois

“…In many ungulates, males expend a substantial part of their fat reserve in the autumn rut. Less energy available for allocation to immune defense [ 44 , 45 ] together with adverse effects of testosterone [ 46 - 49 ] is the most likely explanation for the higher susceptibility of reproductively active males to pathogens. In chamois, increased susceptibility to scabies in sexually active males, as indicated by lower survival of these males in populations affected by scabies (Figure 4 ), is thus likely linked to their exhaustive depletion of energy reserves during the early-winter rut when they defend mating territories and compete heavily for access to females [ 35 ].…”

Iberian Wild Goat Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838

“…Various serological studies have shown antibodies against Sarcocystis sp. (Granados et al 2001;Antón et al 2002;Luzón et al 2008;Santiago-Moreno et al 2010), Babesia sp. (Ferrer et al 1998;García-Moreno et al 2009), Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum (Gauss et al 2006;Almería et al 2007;García-Bocanegra et al 2012).…”