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Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid
Published on: August 8, 2017
A comparison of the physiological status in parasitized roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from two different populations
M Jégo1, H Ferté2, J M Gaillard3
1Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, 43 bd du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France; Université de Lyon, VetAgroSup, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'étoile, France.
Abstract:
Studies of the impact of parasites on host performance have mainly focused on body mass, a phenotypic trait that responds relatively slowly to the presence of parasites, and the expectedly faster response of physiological parameters has been mostly overlooked. We filled the gap by measuring the impact of endoparasites on four hematological/biochemical parameters (hematocrit, albumin, creatinine and fructosamine) in two contrasting free-living populations of roe deer. We generally found negative relationships between parasites and physiological parameters. Our findings also indicate little role of host sex on parasite impact and strongest parasite effects on young and senescent hosts.
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