Sickness behaviour associated with non-lethal infections in wild primates.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Parasitology
• Primate Behavior

Background:

• Non-lethal parasite infections are prevalent in wildlife populations.
• Understanding the clinical impact of these infections on host behavior is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the behavioral consequences of whipworm (Trichuris) infection in wild red colobus monkeys (Procolobus rufomitratus tephrosceles).
• To determine if infected primates exhibit sickness behaviors or engage in self-medication.

Main Methods:

• Paired analysis of whipworm infection data and behavioral activity data from a habituated red colobus group in Kibale National Park, Uganda.
• Utilized mixed-effect models to assess the relationship between parasitism and behavior.
• Monitored changes in activity levels, behavioral patterns, feeding habits, and plant consumption.

Main Results:

• Whipworm-positive red colobus monkeys exhibited increased resting and decreased energetically costly behaviors.
• Temporal behavioral patterns shifted, with less frequent behavior switching in infected individuals.
• Consumption of bark and Albizia species significantly increased during periods of whipworm egg shedding.

Conclusions:

• Red colobus monkeys display sickness behaviors in response to non-lethal whipworm infections, indicating clinical sensitivity.
• Increased consumption of specific plants suggests potential self-medicative behavior, warranting further investigation.