Trichinella spiralis infection in voles alters female odor preference but not partner preference |
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| Authors: | Sabra L Klein H Ray Gamble Randy J Nelson |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Group, Department of Neuroscience Department of Biochemistry The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD 21218-2686, USA e-mail: rnelson@jhu.edu Tel.: +1-410-5168407, Fax: +1-410-5166205, TP;(2) USDA Agricultural Research Service, Livestock and Poultry Sciences Institute, Parasite Biology and Epidemiology Laboratory Beltsville, MD 20705, USA, US;(3) Molecular Biology, Microbiology and immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA, TP |
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| Abstract: | Females may choose mates based on secondary sex traits that reflect disease resistance. Accordingly, females should be able
to distinguish between unparasitized and parasitized males, and should prefer to mate with unparasitized individuals. Mate
and odor preferences for uninfected males or males infected with the nematode, Trichinella spiralis, were examined among prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (M. pennsylvanicus). In a 15-min odor preference test, only female meadow voles distinguished between bedding from parasitized and unparasitized
conspecific males, and preferred to spend time with bedding from unparasitized males. Although T. spiralis infection influenced odor preference in female meadow voles, there was no effect of infection status on mate preference among
either species. Testosterone and corticosterone concentrations were not different between parasitized and unparasitized males.
However, among prairie voles, males that spent an increased amount of time with females during the mate preference test had
elevated testosterone concentrations. Taken together, these data suggest that (1) female meadow voles can discriminate between
unparasitized and parasitized males, (2) the effects of infection on steroid hormone concentrations may be masked by the effects
of social interactions, and (3) parasites may represent a selective constraint on partner preference in voles; however, the
life cycle of parasites may influence female preference and should be considered in studies of female preference.
Received: 23 April 1998 / Accepted after revision: 25 October 1998 |
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| Keywords: | Arvicoline rodents Corticosterone Female preference Parasite infection Testosterone |
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