Reproductive effort reduces specific immune response and parasite resistance.

摘要

If a trade-off exists between reproductive effort and immune function, life history decisions may have important implications for parasite resistance. The effects of experimental manipulation of reproductive effort on subsequent specific immune function and parasite resistance in the collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis, were investigated. The results showed that increased reproductive effort of females immunized with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine negatively affected the ability to respond with NDV-specific antibodies. It was also shown that increased reproductive effort increased the intensity of Haemoproteus infections and that these infections were associated with higher mortality. The results support the hypothesis that immune suppression caused by reproductive effort may be an important mechanism mediating the life history cost of reproduction.