Data from: Plastic responses of Plasmodium relictum to competent and non-competent mosquito bites
Data files
Sep 30, 2025 version files 101.63 KB
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Bloodsmears.csv
6.23 KB
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ELISA_Corticosterone.csv
1.98 KB
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ELISA_CRP.csv
2.41 KB
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ELISA_IgY.csv
1.25 KB
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qPCR_DNA_Parasito.csv
8.56 KB
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README.md
4.26 KB
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RT-qPCR_RNA_Gameto.csv
35.96 KB
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Statistical_Analyses_BiologyLetters_Chauvin_2025.Rmd
40.97 KB
Abstract
Environmental unpredictability challenges the transmission success of vector-borne parasites like Plasmodium, whose fitness depends on synchronizing gametocyte production with vector availability. Although mosquito bites are known to trigger Plasmodium responses, it remains unclear whether parasites respond specifically to competent vectors or adopt a generalist strategy. We experimentally infected birds with the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum and exposed them to bites from either a competent (Culex quinquefasciatus) or a non-competent (Anopheles gambiae) vector species. Both exposures induced a rise in parasitaemia, but the response was significantly stronger to the non-competent species. Host inflammatory, humoral, and stress markers remained similar across mosquito treatments, implying that unidentified physiological cues may underlie the parasite's response. No species-specific modulation of gametocyte conversion rate or sex ratio was observed. These findings suggest that P. relictum does not discriminate between mosquito species, instead employing a generalist, possibly bet-hedging strategy in response to any mosquito bite. Our results highlight the importance of mosquito community composition in shaping parasite transmission dynamics. If non-vector mosquitoes enhance Plasmodium transmission investment, shifts in vector assemblages due to climate change or control measures may have unanticipated effects on disease ecology.
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.h9w0vt4w1
Description
This dataset contains quantitative PCR (qPCR) measurements of parasitaemia (DNA-based) and gametocytaemia (RNA-based, male and female markers) in canaries experimentally infected with Plasmodium relictum and exposed to mosquito bites from either a competent vector (Culex quinquefasciatus), a non-competent vector (Anopheles gambiae), or no mosquitoes (control).
The data were used to estimate total parasite burden, gametocyte sex ratio, and conversion rate across time points and treatments, as reported in the main manuscript.
In addition, datasets describing host physiological responses—measured via ELISA-based quantification of corticosterone, C-reactive protein (CRP), and IgY antibodies—are included. All missing data represented as NA.
Files included
1. qPCR_DNA_Parasito.csv
- Description: DNA-based quantification of total parasite load (parasitaemia).
- Separator: Comma (
,). - Columns:
Marker: target gene used (Plasmo= Plasmodium Cyt b)Stimulation: mosquito exposure treatment (CQ= Culex,AG= Anopheles,Non-stimulated= control)Birdtag: individual bird IDTime: sampling day (relative to mosquito exposure)Ct_value: qPCR cycle thresholdLogParasitaemia: log10-transformed estimate of parasite density
2. RT-qPCR_RNA_Gameto.csv
- Description: RNA-based quantification for male and female gametocyte abundance.
- Separator: Comma (
,). - Columns:
Marker: stage-specific markers (Female,Male,Asexual) and housekeeping gene (GAPDH)Stimulation: mosquito exposure treatmentBirdtag: individual bird IDTime: sampling day (relative to mosquito exposure)Ct_value: RT-qPCR cycle thresholdLogPlasmidCopies: log10-transformed plasmid copy number
3. ELISA_Corticosterone.csv
- Description: Plasma corticosterone levels measured via ELISA.
- Separator: Comma (
,). - Columns:
Birdtag: individual bird IDTime: sampling day (relative to mosquito exposure)Stimulation: mosquito exposure treatmentCorticosterone: hormone concentration (ng/mL)
4. ELISA_CRP.csv
- Description: C-reactive protein (CRP) levels measured from plasma via ELISA.
- Separator: Comma (
,). - Columns:
Birdtag: individual bird IDStimulation: mosquito exposure treatmentTime: sampling day (relative to mosquito exposure)CRP: concentration of CRP (ng/mL)Plate: ELISA plate number (for technical tracking)
5. ELISA_IgY.csv
- Description: IgY antibody concentrations measured via ELISA.
- Separator: Comma (
,). - Columns:
Birdtag: individual bird IDStimulation: mosquito exposure treatmentTime: sampling day (relative to mosquito exposure)IgY: antibody concentration (µg/mL)
6. Bloodsmears.csv
- Description: Percentage of infected erythrocytes measured by blood smears to monitor parasitaemia in birds.
- Separator: Comma (
,). - Columns:
Birdtag: individual bird IDStimulation: mosquito exposure treatment (Non-stimulated,Culex,Anopheles)Time: sampling day (relative to mosquito exposure)Parasitaemia: percentage of infected erythrocytes (% iRBC)
7. Statistical_Analyses_BiologyLetters_Chauvin_2025.Rmd
- Description: R Markdown script used for all statistical analyses and figure generation presented in the manuscript.
- Format:
.Rmdfile compatible with R (≥ 4.3.0) and RStudio. - Contents:
- Data import and relative transformation
- Statistical analyses (linear mixed models, post-hoc tests, model diagnostics)
- Data visualization (line plots, boxplots, and summary statistics)
- Required R packages:
tidyverse,ggplot2,ggpubr,dplyr,tidyr,lme4,lmerTest,emmeans,Hmisc,performance,car,Matrix,patchwork,cowplot,datawizard
Contact
Valentin Chauvin
University of Montpellier / MIVEGEC (IRD Occitanie); valentin.chauvin@ird.fr