The physiological cost of male-biased parasitism in a nearly monomorphic mammal

摘要: Even though male-biased parasitism is common in mammals, little effort has been made to evaluate whether higher parasitic burden males results an extra biological cost, and thus a decrease fitness. Body condition impairment the augmentation of oxidative stress can be used as indicators cost parasite infections. Here, we examined relationships between gastrointestinal respiratory helminths, body markers (glutathione peroxidase, paraoxonase-1) 28 Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra p. pyrenaica) sampled autumn. Only male showed reduction due infection, likely because extremely high burdens observed males. This study evident disparity physiological multiple sexes wild mammal, mainly richness. Because similar life expectancy female chamois, suggest that may have developed natural mechanisms compensate for loads during rut.