Data from: Genetic color polymorphism is associated with avian malarial infections

Individual genetic diversity is predicted to influence host-parasite interactions. Together with the genes directly associated with immune responses, variation in genes regulating vertebrate melanin-based pigmentation may play an important role in these interactions, mainly through the pleiotropic effects that affect color-specific physiology, behavior, and immunity. Here we test the hypothesis that the prevalence of avian malarial parasites differs between phenotypes in a raptor species in which the genetic basis of color polymorphism and its pleiotropic effects over immune functions are known. We found that dark morphs had a higher prevalence of Plasmodium parasites than pale ones but detected no such association for Haemoproteus. This pattern may be associated to unequal exposure to vectors or, as suggested by our circumstantial evidence, to a differential ability to mount an immune response against blood parasites.

个体遗传多样性被预测可影响宿主-寄生虫相互作用。除直接参与免疫应答的基因外，调控脊椎动物黑色素依赖性色素沉着的基因变异，或通过影响颜色特异性生理、行为与免疫功能的多效性效应，在这类相互作用中发挥关键作用。
本研究针对一种猛禽物种开展假说检验：该物种的颜色多态性遗传基础及其对免疫功能的多效性效应已被明确阐明，其不同表型个体的禽疟原虫感染率存在差异。
研究结果显示，深色型个体的疟原虫属（Plasmodium）感染率显著高于浅色型个体，但未发现血孢子虫属（Haemoproteus）存在此类关联。
这一结果模式可能与媒介接触概率不均有关，或如本研究的间接证据所提示，与宿主针对血液寄生虫产生免疫应答的能力差异相关。