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Dryad

Friend virus virulence and reproduction data for wild-derived male house mice competing in semi-natural populations

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Nov 14, 2023 version files 11 KB

Abstract

Social status in social animals, including humans, is considered a major determinant of overall health and susceptibility to disease. There is considerable evidence that these effects extend to the standing immune profile and that social status directly influences susceptibility to pathogens. However, the mechanistic underpinnings that link infectious disease and social status remain difficult to disentangle from associated factors. Here we examined the association between dominance status in male wild-derived house mice (Mus musculus) and susceptibility to Friend virus complex in the context of semi-natural populations with high male-male competition and no predation. These enclosures resemble house mouse environments, which have been associated with human architecture since the dawn of agriculture. Such conditions were achieved with large indoor enclosures designed to allow remote monitoring and to encourage mice to compete over optimal territories. Due to an interruption in our facility’s heating system, we were unexpectedly presented with the opportunity to assess how reduced temperature influences the association of social status and pathogen susceptibility. We found that pathogen virulence and reproduction were significantly lower in socially dominant hosts compared to non-dominant hosts. Interestingly, when temperature was reduced dominant and non-dominant males experienced similar levels of virulence and viral reproduction. While several hypotheses are considered, these insights may illuminate a new method of experimental manipulation to modify competitive intensity. If confirmed, future experiments may help elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings between social status and disease in the best studied and economical mammalian model available to science.