Abstract
Wild animals are infected by diverse parasites, but how they influence host health is poorly understood. We examined the relationship of trypanosomatids and gastrointestinal parasites with health of wild brown-nosed coatis (Nasua nasua) from the Brazilian Pantanal. We used coati body condition and hematological parameters as response variables in linear models that were compared using an information theoretic approach. Predictors were high/low parasitemias by Trypanosoma cruzi and T. evansi, and indices representing the abundance of distinct groups of gastrointestinal parasites. We also analyzed how host health changed with host sex and reproductive seasonality. Hemoparasites was best related to coati body condition and hematological indices, whereas abundance of gastrointestinal parasites was relatively less associated with coati health. Additionally, some associations were best predicted by models that incorporated reproductive seasonality and host sex. Overall, we observed a lower health condition during the breeding season, when coatis are under reproductive stress and may be less able to handle infection. In addition, females seem to handle infection better than males. Body condition was lower in coatis with high parasitemias of T. evansi, especially during the reproductive season. Total red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, platelets and eosinophils were also lower in animals with high T. evansi parasitemias. Total white blood cell counts and mature neutrophils were lower in animals with high parasitemias for both Trypanosoma species, with neutrophils decreasing mainly during the reproductive season. Overall, decreases in hematological parameters of females with T. evansi high parasitemias were less evident. For T. cruzi, monocytes decreased in individuals with high parasitemias. High abundances of microfilariae in the bloodstream, and cestode eggs and coccidian oocysts in feces were also associated with coati blood parameters. This study shows the potential value of examining hematological parameters as an approach to better understand the ecological relevance of parasite-host interactions.
Highlights
Through their influence on host health, parasites may negatively affect several aspects of the life history of their hosts, including fecundity and survival [1,2,3]
We examined the importance of two species of trypanosomatids (Trypanosoma cruzi and T. evansi) and 5 groups of additional parasites on the health of free-ranging brown-nosed coatis (Procyonidae: Nasua nasua) from the Brazilian Pantanal as a model for investigating the effects of concomitant infection by micro and macroparasites on the host health
red blood cell (RBC) and Packed cell volume (PCV) values of coatis with high T. evansi parasitemias were similar to those found in other studies; this parasite causes a macrocytic normochromic anemia in coatis that with doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0143997.g002
Summary
Through their influence on host health, parasites may negatively affect several aspects of the life history of their hosts, including fecundity and survival [1,2,3]. Evaluating host health is critical for understanding how parasites influence hosts at the individual and population levels. Peripheral monocyte numbers, in turn, increase due to subacute and chronic inflammatory responses, usually caused by bacterial and protozoan infections [12]. The role of eosinophils is manifold and still not completely elucidated, but they are involved in allergic and inflammatory responses; eosinophilia (increased number of circulating eosinophils) can be found as a response to several parasitic infections [14,15,16,17]. Platelets are multifunctional, playing role for instance in haemostasis and thrombosis, vessel repair, inflammation and host defense including immunity to parasites [18,19]
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