Stress-induced antioxidant defense response and body mass loss in microfilariae-infected breeding adult male village weavers (Ploceus cucullatus).

This article examines the effects of microfilariae infections on the body condition, corticosterone (CORT) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in adult male breeding and non-breeding village weavers (Ploceus cucullatus) during their breeding period. The study found that infected birds exhibited reduced body mass, elevated SOD activity—an antioxidant enzyme linked to oxidative stress defense—and higher CORT concentrations associated with breeding stress. These findings suggest that microfilariae infections impose physiological and oxidative stress on breeding males, potentially leading to poorer body condition despite their breeding plumage. The research highlights a possible long-term impact of chronic parasitic infection on the fitness and reproductive strategies of village weavers, warranting further investigation into compensatory mechanisms and evolutionary implications.