Feore S M, Bennett M, Chantrey J, Jones T, Baxby D, Begon M
Population Biology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK.
Proc Biol Sci. 1997 Oct 22;264(1387):1457-61. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1997.0202.
Although epidemic infectious diseases are a recognized cause of changes in host population dynamics, there is little direct evidence for the effect of endemic infections on populations. Cowpox virus is an orthopoxvirus which is endemic in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and field voles (Microtus agrestis) in Great Britain. It does not cause obvious signs of disease nor does it affect survival, but in this study we demonstrate experimentally that it can reduce the fecundity of bank voles and wood mice by increasing the time to first litter by 20-30 days. The pathogenic mechanisms causing this effect are at present not known, but this finding suggests that natural subclinical infection could have a considerable effect on the dynamics of wild populations.
尽管流行性传染病是宿主种群动态变化的一个公认原因,但关于地方性感染对种群的影响,几乎没有直接证据。痘苗病毒是一种正痘病毒,在英国的林姬鼠(Clethrionomys glareolus)、林鼠(Apodemus sylvaticus)和田鼠(Microtus agrestis)中呈地方性流行。它不会引起明显的疾病症状,也不影响生存,但在本研究中,我们通过实验证明,它可以使林姬鼠和林鼠的首次产仔时间增加20 - 30天,从而降低其繁殖力。导致这种影响的致病机制目前尚不清楚,但这一发现表明,自然亚临床感染可能对野生种群的动态产生相当大的影响。