The spleen is an important organ of vertebrates. Splenic mass can change in response to a variety of factors. We tested whether splenic mass of masked shrews, Sorex cinereus, was related to sex, age, time of the year, or intensity of bladder nematode (Liniscus [=Capillaria] maseri) infection, after controlling for host body mass. For females, body mass was a strong predictor of splenic mass. For males, splenic masses were greater later in the year and in more heavily infected males. The latter appeared to represent a threshold response wherein only the most heavily infected individuals had enlarged spleens.
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1 February 2009
Splenic Mass of Masked Shrews, Sorex cinereus, in Relation to Body Mass, Sex, Age, Day of the Year, and Bladder Nematode, Liniscus (=Capillaria) maseri, Infection
Krystyna M. Cowan,
Dave Shutler,
Thomas B. Herman,
Donald T. Stewart
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