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Effects of social status and stress on patterns of gastrointestinal parasitism in wild white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar).
- Source :
-
American journal of physical anthropology [Am J Phys Anthropol] 2013 Apr; Vol. 150 (4), pp. 602-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Feb 26. - Publication Year :
- 2013
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Abstract
- Although gibbons (family Hylobatidae) are typically monogamous, polyandrous groups occur regularly. Stress associated with elevated intragroup competition among males in polyandrous groups may increase susceptibility to infectious disease. To better understand this interplay, as well as to provide the first comprehensive assessment of parasitism in free-ranging gibbons, we characterized the richness of gastrointestinal parasites and examined their prevalence in males from 14 groups (10 pair-living, 4 multi-male) of white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. From September 2008 to May 2009, 324 fecal samples were collected from 23 individually recognizable male gibbons and screened for gastrointestinal helminths and protozoa after isolation via fecal floatation, sedimentation, and immunofluorescent antibody detection. A total of 10 parasite species recovered, including seven nematodes, two protozoans, and one trematode. Parasite richness and species-specific prevalence were examined relative to social organization (pair-living vs. multi-male), male status (primary vs. secondary), age (subadult, adult, senior), fecal glucocorticoid levels, and time of the year. No relationship was found between parasite richness and sociodemographic or physiological factors. Similarly, prevalence of infection with parasite species was not associated with the majority of sociodemographic factors; however, Ternidens sp. and Balantidium coli varied seasonally and Trichuris sp. decreased with increasing age. Moreover, observational data suggest that competition is low in this gibbon population, and our findings are consistent with those observations in that cooperative defense may offset stress and reduce susceptibility to infection.<br /> (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Balantidium isolation & purification
Cryptosporidium isolation & purification
Feces chemistry
Feces parasitology
Female
Gastrointestinal Diseases physiopathology
Glucocorticoids analysis
Helminths isolation & purification
Hylobates psychology
Male
Parasitic Diseases, Animal physiopathology
Social Behavior
Stress, Psychological parasitology
Stress, Psychological psychology
Behavior, Animal physiology
Dominance-Subordination
Gastrointestinal Diseases parasitology
Hylobates physiology
Parasitic Diseases, Animal parasitology
Stress, Physiological physiology
Stress, Psychological physiopathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1096-8644
- Volume :
- 150
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of physical anthropology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23440877
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.22232