Effects of parasites and predators on nociception: decreases analgesia reduces overwinter survival in root voles (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Growing evidence suggests that parasite-infected prey is more vulnerable to predation. However, the mechanism underlying this phenomenon obscure. In small mammals, analgesia induced by environmental stressors a fundamental component of defensive repertoire, promoting responses. Thus, reduced may impair ability and increase their predation risk. This study aimed determine whether coccidia infection increases vulnerability in root voles, Microtus oeconomus (Pallas, 1776), decreased analgesia. Herein, predator stimulus parasitic were simulated laboratory via two-level factorial experiment, then, vole nociceptive responses an aversive thermal evaluated. Further, field experiment was performed overwinter survival voles with different repeated live trapping. The coccidia-infected demonstrated predator-induced following exposure odor. Meanwhile, pain-sensitive had lower than pain-inhibited enclosed populations throughout duration experiment. Our findings suggest attenuates analgesia, resulting increased