Fever and evolution
Cabanac, M.
La Semaine des Hopitaux Organe Fonde Par l'Association d'Enseignement Medical des Hopitaux de Paris 54(13-16): 529-531
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-1777 PMID: 211597 Document Number: 137384
The nervous system utilizes different methods to produce fever. Behavior only among the ectotherms is required; both behavior and direct responses occur in homeotherms. Fever is a response to bacterial or viral attack, and this response is common to all vertebrates. It is probably an ancient reaction beginning about 400 million years ago. It has been retained because of its utility. After bacterial infection, the survival rate of ectotherms is improved by fever; hyperthermia stimulates the immunologic defenses of the organism. Aspirin is an antipyretic for birds and reptiles and prostaglandin E1 immediately creates a fever in birds, amphibians and mammals. Birds have the unusual characteristic of developing hypothermia for several hours after injection of a pathogen.