Sex-biased @entity4801 is rarely investigated in relation to host tolerance and resistance, which are two defense strategies hosts can adopt when challenged by parasites. Health or @entity410 deteriorations in less tolerant individuals with increasing parasite burden would be faster than those in more tolerant ones. Hence, the body condition and reproductive potential of an infected individual host can be considered proxies for tolerance to @entity4801 . We studied Mediterranean populations of the wood @entity19 (Apodemus sylvaticus) and its helminth parasites. We assessed their resistance using the phytohemagglutinin test and spleen size, and their tolerance using body condition in males and females and testes mass in males. In order to avoid spurious correlations, we took into account the phylogeographic structure of the Mediterranean wood @entity19 populations. We used a mixed model adapted from the animal model used in quantitative genetics. @entity281 did not differ between the two sexes, females and males differed in their measured defenses. Females seem to invest more in immune defense with increasing risk of parasite diversity, but also appear to be potentially more tolerant of @entity4801 diversity. These results suggest the existence of sexual differences in resistance and tolerance, and that measurements of @entity4801 loads alone could be insufficient to detect any underlying sexual differences in the two strategies that have evolved in response to multiple @entity4801 attacks.

Is there sex-biased resistance and tolerance in Mediterranean wood XXXX (Apodemus sylvaticus) populations facing @entity281 ?

@entity4801 :: ('MESH:D010272', 'Disease') :: ['parasitic', 'parasitism'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['While helminth infection'] @entity410 :: ('MESH:D012640', 'Disease') :: ['fitness'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['mouse']
@entity19 :: (10090,Species) :: ['mouse']
