Seasonal Patterns of Stress, Immune Function, and Disease

Nelson, Randy J.; Demas, Gregory E.; Klein, Sabra L.; Kriegsfeld, Lance J.; Bronson, F. H.

doi:10.1017/cbo9780511546341

Cited by 227 publications

(268 citation statements)

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“…It is possible that deer mice that have survived the winter are in poor physical condition and thus are more likely to acquire infections (Nelson 2002). In addition, over-wintering deer mice with SNV infections may be more infectious in early spring if recrudescent virus is released from adipose stores during the winter (Botten et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Variation in Sin Nombre Virus Infections in Deer Mice: Preliminary Results

Dearing

Previtali

Jones

et al. 2009

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:The proportion of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) with recently acquired Sin Nombre virus (SNV) infections is an indicator of epizootic intensity and may be key in predicting outbreaks of hantavirus cardio-pulmonary syndrome in humans. We investigated whether incidence of recent infections was related to season, sex, reproductive status, or habitat disturbance. In May and September, 2006, we sampled 912 deer mice at six sites in Utah. We determined SNV antibody prevalence and estimated the number of recent infections with an avidity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibody prevalence in adults (n5735) was 22%, and putative maternal antibody prevalence in juveniles (n5177) was 7%. Sampling period explained a significant amount of the variance in the probability of recent infections, which were two times more common in May versus September. Additionally, prevalence of high-avidity maternal antibodies (i.e., from dams with older infections) in juveniles did not correspond to the antibody avidity patterns in adult females. In May, no juveniles had high-avidity antibodies compared to adult females (49%); in September, avidity could not be measured in juveniles because none were seropositive, despite large sample sizes (n584) and an 11% seroprevalence in adult females. Based on the results, coupled with those from the literature, we speculate that the majority of new infections may occur predominantly in the spring and that SNV may impair reproductive output of females.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Variation in Sin Nombre Virus Infections in Deer Mice: Preliminary Results

Dearing

Previtali

Jones

et al. 2009

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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“…The high energetic costs of acute phase responses that accompany behavioral responses to infection are inextricably linked to the condition of the animal. If energy reserves are minimal, the marginal benefit accrued from exhibiting sickness behavior precipitously declines, as any further decreases in body mass below a critical set point may lead to a reduced chance for recovery (Bilbo et al, 2002b;Nelson et al, 2002). Thus, depending upon energy demands over the season, suppression of sickness behavior, and immune function in general, may actually be favored.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is considerable evidence that immune function varies on a seasonal basis in a number of vertebrate taxa Nelson et al, 2002;Nelson, 2004), and several patterns of seasonal variation exist. Many animals that seasonally reproduce during the spring and summer exhibit reduced immune function in the winter when food is scarce and thermogenesis is increased to offset colder temperatures Nelson, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal modulation of sickness behavior in free-living northwestern song sparrows (Melospiza melodia morphna)

Owen-Ashley

Wingfield

2006

Journal of Experimental Biology

111

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SUMMARY A variety of vertebrate species modulate immune function on a seasonal basis to cope with seasonal energy deficits and competing life-history demands, such as reproduction. Most studies to date have focused upon seasonal variation of cellular and humoral immunity, while neglecting behavioral responses to infection. These behavioral strategies are collectively termed sickness behaviors and are hypothesized to divert energy away from normal activities to combat and overcome infection. Sickness behavior can be triggered experimentally by injecting bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, we provide the first evidence for seasonal modulation of sickness behavior in a free-living animal. Male song sparrows of western Washington state (Melospiza melodia morphna) are sedentary and territorial year round, except for a brief time during molt. Treatment with LPS decreased territorial aggressive behavior of males in the winter (nonbreeding), but not in the spring (breeding). Subjects were recaptured approx. 25 h after treatment. Recaptured LPS males in the winter lost more body mass than saline-injected controls while LPS males in the spring did not. These data indicate that birds in breeding condition were relatively insensitive to the effects of LPS. On a proximate level, suppression of sickness behavior during breeding is likely mediated by seasonal differences in energy allocation, as wintering sparrows were significantly heavier and had larger subcutaneous fat reserves and lower baseline corticosterone levels than breeding birds. Ultimately, suppression of sickness behavior may represent an allocation strategy to balance current reproductive opportunities with the life-history costs of self-defense.

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“…The 16L and 8L photoperiods were chosen because they match or exceed in duration those photoperiods sufficient to elicit phenotypic changes in the hamster reproductive and immune systems (Prendergast et al, 2002a;Nelson et al, 2002). Rats were weighed (± 1 g) at weekly intervals for the next 10 weeks.…”

Section: Animals and General Housing Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter day lengths enhance T lymphocyte phenotypes, inhibit cytokine responses, and attenuate behavioral symptoms of infection in laboratory rats

Prendergast¹,

Kampf-Lassin²,

Yee³

et al. 2007

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

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Annual variations in day length (photoperiod) trigger changes in the immune and reproductive system of seasonally-breeding animals. The purpose of this study was to determine whether photoperiodic changes in immunity depend on concurrent photoperiodic responses in the reproductive system, or whether immunological responses to photoperiod occur independent of reproductive responses. Here we report photoperiodic changes in enumerative, functional, and behavioral aspects of the immune system, and in immunomodulatory glucocorticoid secretion, in reproductively non-photoperiodic Wistar rats. T-cell numbers (CD3+, CD8+, CD8+CD25+, CD4+CD25+) were higher in the blood of rats housed in short as opposed to long day lengths for 10 weeks. Following a simulated bacterial infection (E. coli LPS; 125 μg/kg) the severity of several acute-phase sickness behaviors (anorexia, cachexia, neophobia, and social withdrawal) were attenuated in short days. LPS-stimulated IL-1β and IL-6 production were comparable between photoperiods, but plasma TNFα was higher in longday relative to short-day rats. In addition, corticosterone concentrations were higher in short-day relative to long-day rats. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that photoperiodic regulation of the immune system can occur entirely independently of photoperiodic regulation of the reproductive system. In the absence of concurrent reproductive responses, short days increase the numbers of leukocytes capable of immunosurveillance and inhibition of inflammatory responses, increase proinflammatory cytokine production, increase immunomodulatory glucocorticoid secretion, and ultimately attenuate behavioral responses to infection. Seasonal changes in the host immune system, endocrine system, and behavior may contribute to the seasonal variability in disease outcomes, even in reproductively non-photoperiodic mammals.

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Seasonal Patterns of Stress, Immune Function, and Disease

Cited by 227 publications

References 0 publications

Seasonal Variation in Sin Nombre Virus Infections in Deer Mice: Preliminary Results

Seasonal Variation in Sin Nombre Virus Infections in Deer Mice: Preliminary Results

Seasonal modulation of sickness behavior in free-living northwestern song sparrows (Melospiza melodia morphna)

Winter day lengths enhance T lymphocyte phenotypes, inhibit cytokine responses, and attenuate behavioral symptoms of infection in laboratory rats

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