Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
Sci Rep. 2017 May 9;7(1):1599. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01417-9.
Infectious diseases are one of the most common threats for both domestic and wild animals, but little is known about the effects on the physiological condition and survival of wild animals. Here, we have tested for the first time in a wild vertebrate facing a viral disease possibly due to herpesvirus (i) whether nestlings with either low levels of oxidative damage or high levels of antioxidant protection are less susceptible to develop visible clinical signs, (ii) whether the disease is associated with the nestlings' oxidative status, (iii) whether the association between the disease and oxidative status is similar between males and females (iv), and whether cloacal and tracheal swabs might be used to detect herpesvirus. To address our questions, we took advantage of a population of Magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) whose nestlings have experienced high mortality rates in recent times. Our work shows that (i) blood lipid oxidative damage is associated with observable clinical signs and survival probabilities of nestling frigatebirds, and (ii) that high glutathione levels in red blood cells are associated with the emergence of visible clinical signs of the disease. Our work provides evidence that differences in the oxidative status of nestlings might underlie individual health and survival.
传染病是家养和野生动物最常见的威胁之一，但对于传染病对野生动物生理状况和生存的影响知之甚少。在这里，我们首次在一种可能因疱疹病毒而患病的野生脊椎动物幼鸟中进行了测试：（i）体内氧化损伤水平较低或抗氧化保护水平较高的幼鸟是否更容易出现明显的临床症状；（ii）疾病是否与幼鸟的氧化状态有关；（iii）疾病与氧化状态之间的关联在雄性和雌性之间是否相似；（iv）泄殖腔和气管拭子是否可用于检测疱疹病毒。为了回答我们的问题，我们利用了一个壮观的军舰鸟（Fregata magnificens）种群，其幼鸟在最近的时间里经历了高死亡率。我们的工作表明：（i）血液脂质氧化损伤与幼鸟军舰鸟的可观察临床症状和生存概率有关；（ii）红细胞中的高谷胱甘肽水平与疾病的明显临床症状的出现有关。我们的工作提供了证据表明，幼鸟的氧化状态差异可能是个体健康和生存的基础。
