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Sex ratio adjustment in Plasmodium gallinaceum
R E Paul1, A Raibaud, P T Brey
1Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire des Insectes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. topotito@pasteur.fr
Parassitologia
|March 4, 2000
Summary
The sex ratio of avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium gallinaceum) shifts during chicken infections. Self-curing infections show a less female-biased parasite sex ratio, impacting transmission success.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Avian Diseases
- Disease Ecology
Background:
- Avian malaria (Plasmodium gallinaceum) infections in chickens can be lethal or self-curing.
- Parasite sex ratio dynamics are crucial for transmission success.
- Host immune responses can influence parasite evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sex ratio dynamics of Plasmodium gallinaceum during chicken infections.
- To determine the impact of sex ratio variation on parasite transmission.
- To explore the role of host immunity in driving sex ratio adjustment.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring Plasmodium gallinaceum sex ratios in chickens with lethal versus self-curing infections.
- Utilizing a theoretical fertilization model to assess transmission success.
- Conducting in vitro mosquito infection studies with varying chicken serum treatments.
Main Results:
- Lethal infections maintained a female-biased parasite sex ratio.
- Self-curing infections exhibited a progressively less female-biased sex ratio.
- Decomplemented serum from curing infections blocked mosquito transmission, unlike serum from lethal infections.
Conclusions:
- Host immune responses, particularly anti-gamete antibodies, likely drive Plasmodium gallinaceum sex ratio adjustment.
- Sex ratio shifts in self-curing infections may enhance parasite transmission by evading immune clearance.
- The host-parasite interaction exerts selective pressure on parasite reproductive strategies.