title: Plasmodium infection brings forward mosquito oviposition.
abstract: Invertebrate hosts often bring forward their reproductive effort in response to a parasitic infection. This is widely interpreted as a host-driven response aimed at compensating for the expected losses in future fitness as a result of parasitism. Here we report that mosquitoes bring forward their oviposition schedule when they are infected with Plasmodium, a parasite known to severely curtail mosquito fecundity. This response could aim at compensating for a negative time-dependent effect of the parasite on mosquito fitness, as infected mosquitoes seem to display a strong and progressive decrease in the quality of the eggs they lay. In addition, we show that this shift in oviposition date is dependent on mosquito strain: a comparison of several isogenic mosquitoes strains, one insecticide-susceptible and two insecticide-resistant ones, reveals that only the former shift their oviposition strategy when infected. This pattern suggests the existence of a costly host-driven response to parasitism, as insecticide-resistant mosquitoes have been shown to be in generally poorer condition.
authors: MIVEGEC (CNRS UMR 5290), Montpellier, France julien.vezilier@gmail.com.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Vézilier
authors: CEFE (UMR CNRS 5175), Montpellier, France.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Nicot
authors: CEFE (UMR CNRS 5175), Montpellier, France.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Gandon
authors: MIVEGEC (CNRS UMR 5290), Montpellier, France.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rivero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002171:Canaries / Q000469:parasitology; D003465:Culex / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D007305:Insecticide Resistance; D008288:Malaria; D010058:Oviposition; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Culex pipiens; Plasmodium relictum; fecundity compensation; gonotrophic cycle; insecticide resistance; parasite manipulation