Of poisons and parasites-the defensive role of tetrodotoxin against infections in newts

The Journal of Animal Ecology
Pieter T J JohnsonJacobus C de Roode

Abstract

Classical research on animal toxicity has focused on the role of toxins in protection against predators, but recent studies suggest these same compounds can offer a powerful defense against parasites and infectious diseases. Newts in the genus Taricha are brightly coloured and contain the potent neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin (TTX), which is hypothesized to have evolved as a defense against vertebrate predators such as garter snakes. However, newt populations often vary dramatically in toxicity, which is only partially explained by predation pressure. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between TTX concentration and infection by parasites. By systematically assessing micro- and macroparasite infections among 345 adult newts (sympatric populations of Taricha granulosa and T. torosa), we detected 18 unique taxa of helminths, fungi, viruses and protozoans. For both newt species, per-host concentrations of TTX, which varied from undetectable to >60 μg/cm2 skin, negatively predicted overall parasite richness as well as the likelihood of infection by the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and ranavirus. No such effect was found on infection load among infected hosts. Despite commonly occurring at th...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 24, 2019·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Carita LindstedtJohanna Mappes
Oct 7, 2020·Natural Product Reports·Roberto G S BerlinckIgor D Jurberg
Sep 24, 2020·Integrative Zoology·Gilles DE MeesterRaoul VAN Damme
Dec 20, 2020·Wilderness & Environmental Medicine·Samuel Christopher Holstege, Alexander B Baer
Sep 25, 2019·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Shana L GeffeneyCharles T Hanifin
Feb 25, 2018·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Pieter T J JohnsonJacobus C de Roode

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