Data from: Genetic colour 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 colour-specific physiology, behaviour 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 colour 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 with unequal exposure to vectors or, as suggested by our circumstantial evidence, to a differential ability to mount an immune response against blood parasites.个体遗传多样性被认为可调控宿主-寄生虫互作过程。除直接参与免疫应答的基因外，调控脊椎动物黑色素沉着的基因变异亦可在这类互作中发挥关键作用，其作用路径主要为通过多效性效应影响毛色特异性的生理、行为与免疫功能。本研究以一种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的猛禽物种为研究对象，检验了“禽疟原虫的感染率在不同表型个体间存在差异”这一假说。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，但未在血变原虫属（Haemoproteus）中检测到此类关联。上述模式可能与个体接触寄生虫传播媒介的概率不均有关，亦或如我们的间接证据所提示的那样，与宿主针对血液寄生虫启动免疫应答的能力差异相关。