Ruminant self-medication against gastrointestinal nematodes: evidence, mechanism, and origins☆
Gastrointestinal helminths challenge ruminants in ways that reduce their fitness. In turn, ruminants have evolved physiological and behavioral adaptations that counteract this challenge. Ruminants display anorexia and avoidance behaviors, which tend to reduce the incidence of parasitism. In addition...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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EDP Sciences
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Parasite |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2014032 |
| _version_ | 1797427444635926528 |
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| author | Villalba Juan J. Miller James Ungar Eugene D. Landau Serge Y. Glendinning John |
| author_facet | Villalba Juan J. Miller James Ungar Eugene D. Landau Serge Y. Glendinning John |
| author_sort | Villalba Juan J. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gastrointestinal helminths challenge ruminants in ways that reduce their fitness. In turn, ruminants have evolved physiological and behavioral adaptations that counteract this challenge. Ruminants display anorexia and avoidance behaviors, which tend to reduce the incidence of parasitism. In addition, ruminants appear to learn to self-medicate against gastrointestinal parasites by increasing consumption of plant secondary compounds with antiparasitic actions. This selective feeding improves health and fitness. Here, we review the evidence for self-medication in ruminants, propose a hypothesis to explain self-medicative behaviors (based on post-ingestive consequences), and discuss mechanisms (e.g., enhanced neophilia, social transmission) that may underlie the ontogeny and spread of self-medicative behaviors in social groups. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie and trigger self-medication in parasitized animals will help scientists devise innovative and more sustainable management strategies for improving ruminant health and well-being. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:44:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc45db69595b4dfdbc04794dd827f4fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1776-1042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:44:12Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasite |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc45db69595b4dfdbc04794dd827f4fb2023-12-02T15:52:10ZengEDP SciencesParasite1776-10422014-01-01213110.1051/parasite/2014032parasite140002Ruminant self-medication against gastrointestinal nematodes: evidence, mechanism, and origins☆Villalba Juan J.Miller JamesUngar Eugene D.Landau Serge Y.Glendinning JohnGastrointestinal helminths challenge ruminants in ways that reduce their fitness. In turn, ruminants have evolved physiological and behavioral adaptations that counteract this challenge. Ruminants display anorexia and avoidance behaviors, which tend to reduce the incidence of parasitism. In addition, ruminants appear to learn to self-medicate against gastrointestinal parasites by increasing consumption of plant secondary compounds with antiparasitic actions. This selective feeding improves health and fitness. Here, we review the evidence for self-medication in ruminants, propose a hypothesis to explain self-medicative behaviors (based on post-ingestive consequences), and discuss mechanisms (e.g., enhanced neophilia, social transmission) that may underlie the ontogeny and spread of self-medicative behaviors in social groups. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie and trigger self-medication in parasitized animals will help scientists devise innovative and more sustainable management strategies for improving ruminant health and well-being.http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2014032Diet selectionForaging behaviorCondensed tanninsLearning |
| spellingShingle | Villalba Juan J. Miller James Ungar Eugene D. Landau Serge Y. Glendinning John Ruminant self-medication against gastrointestinal nematodes: evidence, mechanism, and origins☆ Parasite Diet selection Foraging behavior Condensed tannins Learning |
| title | Ruminant self-medication against gastrointestinal nematodes: evidence, mechanism, and origins☆ |
| title_full | Ruminant self-medication against gastrointestinal nematodes: evidence, mechanism, and origins☆ |
| title_fullStr | Ruminant self-medication against gastrointestinal nematodes: evidence, mechanism, and origins☆ |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ruminant self-medication against gastrointestinal nematodes: evidence, mechanism, and origins☆ |
| title_short | Ruminant self-medication against gastrointestinal nematodes: evidence, mechanism, and origins☆ |
| title_sort | ruminant self medication against gastrointestinal nematodes evidence mechanism and origins☆ |
| topic | Diet selection Foraging behavior Condensed tannins Learning |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2014032 |
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