Ryan Andrew R, Zintl Annetta, Griffin Laura L, Haigh Amy, Quinn Matthew, Sabbatini Pietro, Amin Bawan, Ciuti Simone
Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, University College Dublin School of Biology and Environmental Science, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland.
University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland.
R Soc Open Sci. 2025 Aug 13;12(8):250159. doi: 10.1098/rsos.250159. eCollection 2025 Aug.
infection has been linked to dampening hosts anti-predator behaviour particularly in laboratory conditions with rodents. Little is known about the role of within more complex ecological contexts involving large mammals. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of infection in a population of free-living fallow deer (). In addition, we assessed whether there was a link between deer seropositivity and space use where deer may be more likely to be exposed to (e.g. closer to human infrastructure). Finally, we determined whether infection with was linked to deer risk-taking behaviour. To achieve our goals, we estimated seropositivity and combined it with spatial distribution and behavioural data of individually recognizable deer ranging from those that avoid humans (risk avoiders) to those who beg for food (risk takers). We found to be quite widespread in this population with a seropositivity rate of approximately 20%. We found no correlation between seropositivity and space use in the park, therefore we were unable to determine how the deer were exposed. We did however find that seropositive deer were also more likely to take risks, opening new avenues to explore 's dynamics in the wild.
感染与抑制宿主的反捕食行为有关，特别是在啮齿动物的实验室条件下。在涉及大型哺乳动物的更复杂生态环境中，关于[具体感染物未明确]感染的作用知之甚少。因此，我们旨在确定自由生活的黇鹿种群中[具体感染物未明确]感染的患病率。此外，我们评估了鹿的血清阳性与空间利用之间是否存在联系，在这些空间中鹿可能更容易接触到[具体感染物未明确]（例如，更靠近人类基础设施）。最后，我们确定了[具体感染物未明确]感染是否与鹿的冒险行为有关。为了实现我们的目标，我们估计了血清阳性率，并将其与个体可识别的鹿的空间分布和行为数据相结合，这些鹿从避开人类的（风险规避者）到乞讨食物的（冒险者）。我们发现[具体感染物未明确]在这个种群中相当普遍，血清阳性率约为20%。我们发现公园内[具体感染物未明确]血清阳性与空间利用之间没有相关性，因此我们无法确定鹿是如何接触到[具体感染物未明确]的。然而，我们确实发现血清阳性的鹿也更有可能冒险，这为探索[具体感染物未明确]在野外的动态开辟了新途径。
