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. 2020 Sep 28;8(1):coaa085.
doi: 10.1093/conphys/coaa085. eCollection 2020.

Seasonal dynamics of parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas

Wenliang Zhou  1 , Kai Gao  2 , Yingjie Ma  1   3 , Le Wang  1   3 , Meng Wang  1   3 , Fuwen Wei  1   3   4 , Yonggang Nie  1   3   4
Affiliations

Seasonal dynamics of parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas

Wenliang Zhou et al. Conserv Physiol. .

Abstract

Many factors, including the inner status of the individuals and external environment, can influence the parasite infections and stress physiology in mammals. Here, we explored the influence of the sex, age, reproductive season and seasonal food availability on the parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) through nutrient and steroid hormone analysis and parasitic infection measurement. Diet composition had significant influences on the faecal cortisol levels and parasite load of wild giant pandas. The seasonal dynamic of the cortisol levels and parasite load in faeces co-vary with the seasonal nutrient intake levels of the pandas, which concurrently arrived the peaks at the wood bamboo shoot-eating period in May (parasite infection intensity, 41.47 ± 12.11 eggs/g of wet faeces; cortisol levels, 619.34 ± 70.55 ng/g dry faeces) that the nutrition intake by wild pandas was the highest (protein/fibre, 69.23 ± 9.93). Meanwhile, age class is also as an important factor to affect the parasite load and stress physiology of wild giant pandas. Cubs and sub-adults suffered more helminth burden and stress physiology than adults and old individuals. This is the first study to evaluate the inner and external factors influence on parasitism and stress physiology in wild giant pandas. The findings facilitate a better understanding of how environmental factors might influence the physiology, behaviour and health of pandas and other species and have implications for the conservation and management of the endangered species.

Keywords: Faecal cortisol levels; giant panda; nutrition; parasites; stress physiology.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of transect lines and sampling sites in FNNR, China.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Seasonal variation in the nutrition, infection intensity of the parasites and faecal cortisol metabolites of giant pandas in FNNR. (B) Correlation of the nutrition (protein/fiber), infection intensity of the parasites and faecal cortisol levels. (C) Potential way of parasite infection through polluted water drinking. (D) Intestinal perforation caused by parasitic infection in an old individual died in winter.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Parasitic infection intensity of giant pandas by sex (A), age (B), reproductive season (C) and diet (D).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Variation in faecal cortisol levels in giant pandas by sex (A), age (B), reproductive season (C) and diet (D).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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