Data from: Host stress hormones alter vector feeding preferences, success, and productivity

Stress hormones might represent a key link between individual-level infection outcome, population-level parasite transmission, and zoonotic disease risk. Although the effects of stress on immunity are well known, stress hormones could also affect host–vector interactions via modification of host behaviours or vector-feeding patterns and subsequent reproductive success. Here, we experimentally manipulated songbird stress hormones and examined subsequent feeding preferences, feeding success, and productivity of mosquito vectors in addition to defensive behaviours of hosts. Despite being more defensive, birds with elevated stress hormone concentrations were approximately twice as likely to be fed on by mosquitoes compared to control birds. Moreover, stress hormones altered the relationship between the timing of laying and clutch size in blood-fed mosquitoes. Our results suggest that host stress could affect the transmission dynamics of vector-borne parasites via multiple pathways.

应激激素（Stress hormones）或许是联结个体层面感染结局、种群层面寄生虫传播与人畜共患病风险的关键纽带。尽管应激对免疫系统的影响已被广泛研究证实，但应激激素还可通过改变宿主行为、媒介取食模式以及后续繁殖成功率，影响宿主与媒介昆虫的相互作用。本研究通过实验操控鸣禽的应激激素水平，除观测宿主的防御行为外，还探究了蚊媒的取食偏好、取食成功率与繁殖生产力。尽管应激激素水平升高的鸣禽展现出更强的防御行为，但相较于对照组个体，它们被蚊子叮咬的概率约为对照组的两倍。此外，应激激素还改变了吸血蚊的产卵时间与卵簇大小之间的关联。本研究结果表明，宿主应激反应可通过多条途径影响媒介传播性寄生虫的传播动态。