Hormonal and immunological mechanisms mediating sex differences in parasite infection

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

426 Scopus citations

Abstract

The prevalence and intensity of infections caused by protozoa, nematodes, trematodes, cestodes, and arthropods is higher in males than females. The primary thesis of this review is that immunological differences exist between the sexes that may underlie increased parasitism in males compared to females. Several field and laboratory studies link sex differences in immune function with circulating steroid hormones; thus, the roles of sex steroids, including testosterone, oestradiol, and progesterone, as well as glucocorticoids will be discussed. Not only can host hormones affect responses to infection, but parasites can both produce and alter hormone concentrations in their hosts. The extent to which changes in endocrine-immune interactions following infection are mediated by the host or the parasite will be considered. Although males are more susceptible than females to many parasites, there are parasites for which males are more resistant than females and endocrine-immune interactions may underlie this sex reversal. Finally, although immunological differences exist between the sexes, genetic and behavioural differences may explain some variability in response to infection and will be explored as alternative hypotheses for how differences between the sexes contribute to dimorphic responses to parasites.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)247-264
Number of pages18
JournalParasite Immunology
Volume26
Issue number6-7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2004

Keywords

  • Cestode
  • Glucocorticoid
  • Innate immunity
  • Nematode
  • Oestrogen
  • Protozoa
  • Sex steroids
  • Testosterone
  • Th1/Th2
  • Trematode

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Immunology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hormonal and immunological mechanisms mediating sex differences in parasite infection'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this