The effect of exogenous corticosterone on West Nile virus infection in Northern Cardinals (<it>Cardinalis cardinalis</it>)
<p>Abstract</p> <p>The relationship between stress and disease is thought to be unambiguous: chronic stress induces immunosuppression, which likely increases the risk of infection. However, this link has not been firmly established in wild animals, particularly whether stress hormo...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2012-04-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Research |
| Online Access: | http://www.veterinaryresearch.org/content/43/1/34 |
| _version_ | 1828477039819096064 |
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| author | Owen Jennifer C Nakamura Ayaka Coon Courtney AC Martin Lynn B |
| author_facet | Owen Jennifer C Nakamura Ayaka Coon Courtney AC Martin Lynn B |
| author_sort | Owen Jennifer C |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>The relationship between stress and disease is thought to be unambiguous: chronic stress induces immunosuppression, which likely increases the risk of infection. However, this link has not been firmly established in wild animals, particularly whether stress hormones affect host responses to zoonotic pathogens, which can be transmitted to domesticated animal, wildlife and human populations. Due to the dynamic effects of stress hormones on immune functions, stress hormones may make hosts better or poorer amplifying hosts for a pathogen contingent on context and the host species evaluated. Using an important zoonotic pathogen, West Nile virus (WNV) and a competent host, the Northern Cardinal (<it>Cardinalis cardinalis</it>), we tested the effects of exogenous corticosterone on response to WNV infection. Corticosterone was administered at levels that individuals enduring chronic stressors (i.e., long-term inclement weather, food shortage, anthropogenic pollution) might experience in the wild. Corticosterone greatly impacted mortality: half of the corticosterone-implanted cardinals died between five - 11 days post-inoculation whereas only one of nine empty-implanted (control) birds died. No differences were found in viral titer between corticosterone- and empty-implanted birds. However, cardinals that survived infections had significantly higher average body temperatures during peak infection than individuals that died. In sum, this study indicates that elevated corticosterone could affect the survival of WNV-infected wild birds, suggesting that populations may be disproportionately at-risk to disease in stressful environments.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T06:38:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d924a2928f494920a5f0197bd3a688fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0928-4249 1297-9716 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T06:38:06Z |
| publishDate | 2012-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-d924a2928f494920a5f0197bd3a688fd2022-12-22T01:17:19ZengBMCVeterinary Research0928-42491297-97162012-04-014313410.1186/1297-9716-43-34The effect of exogenous corticosterone on West Nile virus infection in Northern Cardinals (<it>Cardinalis cardinalis</it>)Owen Jennifer CNakamura AyakaCoon Courtney ACMartin Lynn B<p>Abstract</p> <p>The relationship between stress and disease is thought to be unambiguous: chronic stress induces immunosuppression, which likely increases the risk of infection. However, this link has not been firmly established in wild animals, particularly whether stress hormones affect host responses to zoonotic pathogens, which can be transmitted to domesticated animal, wildlife and human populations. Due to the dynamic effects of stress hormones on immune functions, stress hormones may make hosts better or poorer amplifying hosts for a pathogen contingent on context and the host species evaluated. Using an important zoonotic pathogen, West Nile virus (WNV) and a competent host, the Northern Cardinal (<it>Cardinalis cardinalis</it>), we tested the effects of exogenous corticosterone on response to WNV infection. Corticosterone was administered at levels that individuals enduring chronic stressors (i.e., long-term inclement weather, food shortage, anthropogenic pollution) might experience in the wild. Corticosterone greatly impacted mortality: half of the corticosterone-implanted cardinals died between five - 11 days post-inoculation whereas only one of nine empty-implanted (control) birds died. No differences were found in viral titer between corticosterone- and empty-implanted birds. However, cardinals that survived infections had significantly higher average body temperatures during peak infection than individuals that died. In sum, this study indicates that elevated corticosterone could affect the survival of WNV-infected wild birds, suggesting that populations may be disproportionately at-risk to disease in stressful environments.</p>http://www.veterinaryresearch.org/content/43/1/34 |
| spellingShingle | Owen Jennifer C Nakamura Ayaka Coon Courtney AC Martin Lynn B The effect of exogenous corticosterone on West Nile virus infection in Northern Cardinals (<it>Cardinalis cardinalis</it>) Veterinary Research |
| title | The effect of exogenous corticosterone on West Nile virus infection in Northern Cardinals (<it>Cardinalis cardinalis</it>) |
| title_full | The effect of exogenous corticosterone on West Nile virus infection in Northern Cardinals (<it>Cardinalis cardinalis</it>) |
| title_fullStr | The effect of exogenous corticosterone on West Nile virus infection in Northern Cardinals (<it>Cardinalis cardinalis</it>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of exogenous corticosterone on West Nile virus infection in Northern Cardinals (<it>Cardinalis cardinalis</it>) |
| title_short | The effect of exogenous corticosterone on West Nile virus infection in Northern Cardinals (<it>Cardinalis cardinalis</it>) |
| title_sort | effect of exogenous corticosterone on west nile virus infection in northern cardinals it cardinalis cardinalis it |
| url | http://www.veterinaryresearch.org/content/43/1/34 |
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