Abstract
Genetic background underlying wild populations immune response to different parasites is still not well understood. We studied immune response to multiple infections and to competition between different parasite species at different developmental stages in population of yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to investigate associations of MHC II-DRB, IL-10 and Tgf-β genes expressions with presence of intestinal parasites at different developmental stages. Furthermore, we were interested whether the host related characteristics (sex, age, body condition, presence of B chromosomes or expression of other genes) or characteristics of present parasites (number of adult parasites of each identified species, egg count of each parasite genus, total number of nematode individuals) affect differential expression of the studied genes. A significant invert association between the expression of MHC II-DRB and Tgf-β gene was found, which together with absence of IL-10 association confirmed modified Th2 as the main type of immune response to nematode infections. Effect of recorded parasites and parasite life-cycle stage on expression levels of MHC II-DRB gene was detected only through interactions with host-related characteristics such as sex, age, and the presence of B chromosomes. The presence of B chromosomes is associated with lower expression level of Tgf-β gene. Although the influence of host genetic background on parasite infection has already been well documented, this is the first study in mammals that gave presence of B chromosomes on immune response full consideration.
Highlights
In the wild, animals are constantly exposed to various parasites and pathogens
Looking at each parasite species, the highest prevalence was detected for H. polygyrus (Table 1)
Parasite species richness in host community is affected by many factors related to environmental, ecological, and evolutionary components of both host and parasite species [55]
Summary
Animals are constantly exposed to various parasites and pathogens. In a way, we can say that parasites are inevitable and hosts are forced to interact with many different taxa of parasites. Mechanisms explaining host-parasite processes are mainly based on studies of laboratory rodents living under non-natural conditions that are usually pathogen-free and stress-free [4]. The common problem is that most interaction studies have focused on single parasite species and their host, without taking into account interspecific interactions between co-infesting parasites or the cumulative effect of co-infections [5]. Detection of these interactions in wild rodents has been demonstrated [6], [7]
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