Vector abundance determines Trypanosoma prevalence in nestling blue tits

The effect of insect vectors on avian exposure to infection by pathogens remains poorly studied. Here, we used an insect repellent treatment to reduce the number of blood-sucking flying insects in blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus nests and examined its effect on nestling health status measured as body m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology 2013-07, Vol.140 (8), p.1009-1015
Main Authors: MARTÍNEZ–DE LA PUENTE, J., MARTÍNEZ, J., RIVERO-DE-AGUILAR, J., DEL CERRO, S., MERINO, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Bird Diseases - epidemiology
Bird Diseases - parasitology
Calliphoridae
Ceratopogonidae - drug effects
Ceratopogonidae - parasitology
Diptera - drug effects
Diptera - parasitology
Haemosporida - genetics
Haemosporida - isolation & purification
Insect Repellents - pharmacology
Insect Vectors - drug effects
Insect Vectors - parasitology
Insects
Nesting Behavior
Nests
Parasites
Passeriformes - parasitology
Phytohemagglutinins - metabolism
Prevalence
Protozoan Infections, Animal - epidemiology
Protozoan Infections, Animal - parasitology
Pupa
Side effects
Simuliidae - drug effects
Simuliidae - parasitology
Spain
Trypanosoma
Trypanosoma - genetics
Trypanosoma - isolation & purification
Trypanosomiasis - epidemiology
Trypanosomiasis - parasitology
Trypanosomiasis - veterinary
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Summary:The effect of insect vectors on avian exposure to infection by pathogens remains poorly studied. Here, we used an insect repellent treatment to reduce the number of blood-sucking flying insects in blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus nests and examined its effect on nestling health status measured as body mass, nestling phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) response and blood parasite prevalence. We found that (i) the insect repellent treatment significantly reduced the number of blood-sucking flying insects in nests and (ii) the number of blood-sucking flying insects had a significant effect on the prevalence of the blood parasite Trypanosoma independently of the treatment. In addition, we found support for an adverse effect of parasite infections on nestling PHA response. Nestlings infected by Trypanosoma mounted a weaker response against PHA than non-parasitized ones. In addition, the number of blowflies in the nest was negatively associated with nestling PHA response. Overall, we found support for the hypothesis that blood-sucking flying insects attacking nestlings increase their exposure to parasite infections. Our results further substantiate the adverse effect of parasites on nestling condition.
ISSN:0031-1820
1469-8161
1469-8161
DOI:10.1017/S0031182013000371