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Social behaviour, stress and susceptibility to infection in house mice (Mus musculus): effects of duration of grouping and aggressive behaviour prior to infection on susceptibility to Babesia microti

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

C. J. Barnard ,
J. M. Behnke  and
J. Sewell
C. J. Barnard
Affiliation:
Behaviour and Ecology Research GroupUniversity of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
J. M. Behnke
Affiliation:
MRC Experimental Parasitology Group, Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
J. Sewell
Affiliation:
Behaviour and Ecology Research GroupUniversity of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD MRC Experimental Parasitology Group, Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
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Summary

Unrelated and initially unfamiliar male CFLP mice, maintained for different periods in groups of 6, differed in both their rate of clearance of Babesia microti and the time taken to reach peak parasitaemia in relation to their aggressive behaviour within groups prior to infection. Males maintained in groups for shorter periods and showing more aggression within their group were slower to clear infection and males showing more marked external evidence of aggressive interaction reached a peak of parasitaemia sooner. Serum IgG and corticosterone analyses were consistent with increased aggression causing stress-induced immunodepression but relationships with aggression and social status were not simple. Males showing more aggression tended to enter their groups with higher levels of corticosterone and, to a lesser extent, reduced levels of IgG compared with other mice. The results thus suggest that increased susceptibility to disease may be a cost to males aggressively maintaining high social status.

Keywords

house mouseMus musculusBabesia microtisocial statusaggressionstressimmunitycorticosterone.
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 107 , Issue 2 , August 1993 , pp. 183 - 192
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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