Salamanders increase their feeding activity when infected with the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Persistent URL
Author(s)
Hess, Alexandra
McAllister, Caroline
DeMarchi, Joseph A.
Zidek, Makenzie
Murone, Julie
Venesky, Matthew D.
Date Issued
October 27, 2015
Abstract
Immune function is a costly line of defense against parasitism. When infected with a parasite, hosts frequently lose mass due to these costs. However, some infected hosts (e.g. highly resistant individuals) can clear infections with seemingly little fitness losses, but few studies have tested how resistant hosts mitigate these costly immune defenses. We explored this topic using eastern red-backed salamanders Plethodon cinereus and the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Bd is generally lethal for amphibians, and stereotypical symptoms of infection include loss in mass and deficits in feeding. However, individuals of P. cinereus can clear their Bd infections with seemingly few fitness costs. We conducted an experiment in which we repeatedly observed the feeding activity of Bd-infected and non-infected salamanders. We found that Bd-infected salamanders generally increased their feeding activity compared to non-infected salamanders. The fact that we did not observe any differences in mass change between the treatments suggests that increased feeding might help Bd-infected salamanders minimize the costs of an effective immune response.
Journal
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Department
Biology
Citation
Hess A, McAllister C, DeMarchi J, Zidek M, Murone J, Venesky MD (2015) Salamanders increase their feeding activity when infected with the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Dis Aquat Org 116:205-212
Publisher
Inter-Research
Version of Article
Preprint
Postprint
Embargo
The accepted (postprint) version of the article is available for viewing to the public after October 27, 2016. The published version of the article is available for viewing to the public after October 27, 2020.
DOI
10.3354/dao02915
ISSN
0177-5103
1616-1580
Rights
Copyright © 2015 Inter-Research.
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