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Morley NJ. Vertebrates as uninfected disseminators of helminth eggs and larvae. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2022; 115:45-170. [PMID: 35249663 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2021.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The passive dispersal of non-mobile organisms by vertebrates (zoochory) is a common mechanism used to explain their often widespread distribution. Transport occurs either internally via the vertebrate digestive tract (endozoochory), or externally be adhering to skin, feathers or fur (ectozoochory), and its success is due to both physiological and ecological factors associated with the disseminating 'hosting' animal. Helminth eggs and larvae are generally non-mobile stages that are largely dependent on the movement of another animal, typically a host, for geographical dissemination. Studies on the zoochory of helminths by vertebrates are extensive and particularly long-standing, stretching back to the 19th century, although this literature is often overlooked when considering the biogeography of parasites. This review assesses the potential of helminths to be dispersed passively by zoochory examining evidence from both laboratory and field studies. The physiological dynamics of the vertebrate intestines and skin surface as hostile environments, as well as the characteristics of eggs and larvae which may facilitate successful transport are evaluated. The various mechanisms of helminth endo- and ectozoochory are presented and the likelihood of long-distance dispersal determined. It is concluded that zoochory is a potentially important means of disseminating parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil J Morley
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom.
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2
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Estrada-Peña A, Fernández-Ruiz N. Is composition of vertebrates an indicator of the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens? Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2022; 12:2025647. [PMID: 35035783 PMCID: PMC8757609 DOI: 10.1080/20008686.2022.2025647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Communities of vertebrates tend to appear together under similar ranges of environmental features. This study explores whether an explicit combination of vertebrates and their contact rates with a tick vector might constitute an indicator of the prevalence of a pathogen in the quest for ticks at the western Palearctic scale. We asked how ‘indicator’ communities could be ‘markers’ of the actual infection rates of the tick in the field of two species of Borrelia (a bacterium transmitted by the tick Ixodes ricinus). We approached an unsupervised classification of the territory to obtain clusters on the grounds of abundance of each vertebrate and contact rates with the tick. Statistical models based on Neural Networks, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and AdaBoost were detect the best correlation between communities’ composition and the prevalence of Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia gariniii in questing ticks. Both Gradient Boosting and AdaBoost produced the best results, predicting tick infection rates from the indicator communities. A ranking algorithm demonstrated that the prevalence of these bacteria in the tick is correlated with indicator communities of vertebrates on sites selected as a proof-of-concept. We acknowledge that our findings are supported by statistical outcomes, but they provide consistency for a framework that should be deeper explored at the large scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Health. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (Ia2), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Natalia Fernández-Ruiz
- Department of Animal Health. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (Ia2), Zaragoza, Spain
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3
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Huang H, Zhang K, Zhang B, Liu S, Chu H, Qi Y, Zhang D, Li K. Analysis on the relationship between winter precipitation and the annual variation of horse stomach fly community in arid desert steppe, Northwest China (2007-2019). Integr Zool 2021; 17:128-138. [PMID: 34254452 PMCID: PMC9291967 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Gasterophilus spp. have been found to be widespread in reintroduced Przewalski's horses in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve (Northwest China). However, data on the annual variation in Gasterophilus infections are lacking. To analyze the epidemiological features and determine the cause of the annual variation in Gasterophilus infections, we treated 110 Przewalski's horses with ivermectin and collected Gasterophilus larvae from fecal samples each winter from 2007 to 2019. All 110 Przewalski's horses studied were found to be infected by Gasterophilus spp., and a total of 141 379 larvae were collected. Six species of Gasterophilus were identified with the following prevalence: G. pecorum (100%), G. nasalis (96.36%), G. nigricornis (94.55%), G. haemorrhoidalis (56.36%), G. intestinalis (59.09%), and G. inermis (3.64%). The mean infection intensity of Gasterophilus spp. larvae in Przewalski's horses was 1285 ± 653. G. pecorum (92.96% ± 6.71%) was the most abundant species. The intensity of Gasterophilus spp. (r = –0.561, P < 0.046) was significantly correlated with winter precipitation. Our findings confirmed that, in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve, gasterophilosis is a severe parasitic disease in Przewalski's horses. Winter precipitation at the beginning of the year can indirectly affect the intensity and composition of Gasterophilus spp. in Przewalski's horses at the end of the year. Therefore, the water‐related ecological regulation should be carried out to help reduce the parasite infection of Przewalski's horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heqing Huang
- Key Laboratory of Non-Invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.,Chongqing Academy of Environmental Science, Chongqing, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Non-Invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Boru Zhang
- Qinhuangdao Forestry Bureau, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Shanhui Liu
- Office of Educational Administration, Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongjun Chu
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Xinjiang Academy of Forestry, Urumqi, China
| | - Yingjie Qi
- Mt. Kalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve, Changji, Xinjiang, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Non-Invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Li
- Key Laboratory of Non-Invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
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4
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Luccas V, Izar P. Black capuchin monkeys dynamically adjust group spread throughout the day. Primates 2021; 62:789-799. [PMID: 34176033 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-021-00926-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Variation in group spread can affect communication between individuals, synchrony of activity and collective decision-making. Most studies have measured this variation in large time scales, but the variables that influence group spread change as the social unit ranges over different areas throughout the day. Thus, our aim was to analyze the diurnal variation in group spread of a group of black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) inhabiting an area within the southeastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest, the Carlos Botelho State Park. We measured group spread as the distance between the coordinates of the location of the two most distant group members every 5 min during entire days. Using time series analysis, we found that the group spread varied within short periods of time (15 min) throughout the day, revolving around the average group spread distance of 36 m. Group members tended to decrease the interindividual distance over time when they were more than 36 m apart, and to increase the distance when they were at a distance of less than 36 m. In addition, group spread was higher when monkeys were eating fruit than during other activities. We conclude that the variation in group spread may reflect competition for discrete food resources and that increasing cohesion several times throughout the day can be a way of resuming social contact between individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Luccas
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Patrícia Izar
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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5
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Dange P, Mhaisalkar P, Paranjpe D. To group or not to group: group size dynamics and intestinal parasites in Indian peafowl populations. Acta Ethol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-021-00366-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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6
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Brian JI, Aldridge DC. Abundance data applied to a novel model invertebrate host shed new light on parasite community assembly in nature. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:1096-1108. [PMID: 33522596 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how environmental drivers influence the assembly of parasite communities, in addition to how parasites may interact at an infracommunity level, are fundamental requirements for the study of parasite ecology. Knowledge of how parasite communities are assembled will help to predict the risk of parasitism for hosts, and model how parasite communities may change under variable conditions. However, studies frequently rely on presence-absence data and examine multiple host species or sites, metrics which may be too coarse to characterise nuanced within-host patterns. We utilised a novel host system, the freshwater mussel Anodonta anatina, to investigate the drivers of community structure and explore parasite interactions. In addition, we aimed to highlight consistencies and inconsistencies between PA and abundance data. Our analysis incorporated 14 parasite taxa and 720 replicate infracommunities. Using Redundancy Analysis, a joint species distribution model and a Markov random field approach, we modelled the impact of both host-level and environment-level characteristics on parasite structure, as well as parasite-parasite correlations after accounting for all other factors. This approach was repeated for both the presence and abundance of all parasites. We demonstrated that the regional species pool, individual host characteristics (mussel length and gravidity) and predicted parasite-parasite interactions are all important but to varying degrees across parasite species, suggesting that applying generalities to parasite community construction is too simplistic. Furthermore, we showed that PA data fail to capture important density-dependent effects of parasite load for parasites with high abundance, and in general performs poorly for high-intensity parasites. Host and parasite traits, as well as broader environmental factors, all contribute to parasite community structure, emphasising that an integrated approach is required to study community assembly. However, care must be taken with the data used to infer patterns, as presence-absence data may lead to incorrect ecological inference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua I Brian
- Aquatic Ecology Group, The David Attenborough Building, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David C Aldridge
- Aquatic Ecology Group, The David Attenborough Building, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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8
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Poulin R, Bennett J, de Angeli Dutra D, Doherty JF, Filion A, Park E, Ruehle B. Evolutionary Signature of Ancient Parasite Pressures, or the Ghost of Parasitism Past. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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9
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Lynsdale CL, Mon NO, Franco Dos Santos DJ, Aung HH, Nyein UK, Htut W, Childs D, Lummaa V. Demographic and reproductive associations with nematode infection in a long-lived mammal. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9214. [PMID: 32513991 PMCID: PMC7280280 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66075-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection by macroparasites, such as nematodes, varies within vertebrate host systems; elevated infection is commonly observed in juveniles and males, and, for females, with different reproductive states. However, while such patterns are widely recognized in short-lived model systems, how they apply to long-lived hosts is comparatively understudied. Here, we investigated how infection varies with host age, sex, and female reproduction in a semi-captive population of individually marked Asian elephants Elephas maximus. We carried out 1,977 faecal egg counts (FECs) across five years to estimate nematode loads for 324 hosts. Infection patterns followed an established age-infection curve, whereby calves (5 years) exhibited the highest FECs and adults (45 years) the lowest. However, males and females had similar FECs across their long lifespan, despite distinct differences in life-history strategy and clear sexual dimorphism. Additionally, although mothers invest two years in pregnancy and a further three to five years into lactation, nematode load did not vary with four different measures of female reproduction. Our results provide a much-needed insight into the host-parasite dynamics of a long-lived host; determining host-specific associations with infection in such systems is important for broadening our knowledge of parasite ecology and provides practical applications for wildlife medicine and management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nay Oo Mon
- Department of Animal Science, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Myanmar
| | | | - Htoo Htoo Aung
- Myanma Timber Enterprise, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - U Kyaw Nyein
- Myanma Timber Enterprise, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Win Htut
- Myanma Timber Enterprise, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Dylan Childs
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Virpi Lummaa
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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10
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Ellis VA, Huang X, Westerdahl H, Jönsson J, Hasselquist D, Neto JM, Nilsson J, Nilsson J, Hegemann A, Hellgren O, Bensch S. Explaining prevalence, diversity and host specificity in a community of avian haemosporidian parasites. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo A. Ellis
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
- Dept of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, Univ. of Delaware Newark DE 19716 USA
| | - Xi Huang
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal Univ. Beijing PR China
| | | | - Jane Jönsson
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | | | - Júlio M. Neto
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | - Jan‐Åke Nilsson
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | - Johan Nilsson
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | - Arne Hegemann
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | - Olof Hellgren
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | - Staffan Bensch
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
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11
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12
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Halliday FW, Heckman RW, Wilfahrt PA, Mitchell CE. A multivariate test of disease risk reveals conditions leading to disease amplification. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.1340. [PMID: 29046374 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Theory predicts that increasing biodiversity will dilute the risk of infectious diseases under certain conditions and will amplify disease risk under others. Yet, few empirical studies demonstrate amplification. This contrast may occur because few studies have considered the multivariate nature of disease risk, which includes richness and abundance of parasites with different transmission modes. By combining a multivariate statistical model developed for biodiversity-ecosystem-multifunctionality with an extensive field manipulation of host (plant) richness, composition and resource supply to hosts, we reveal that (i) host richness alone could not explain most changes in disease risk, and (ii) shifting host composition allowed disease amplification, depending on parasite transmission mode. Specifically, as predicted from theory, the effect of host diversity on parasite abundance differed for microbes (more density-dependent transmission) and insects (more frequency-dependent transmission). Host diversity did not influence microbial parasite abundance, but nearly doubled insect parasite abundance, and this amplification effect was attributable to variation in host composition. Parasite richness was reduced by resource addition, but only in species-rich host communities. Overall, this study demonstrates that multiple drivers, related to both host community and parasite characteristics, can influence disease risk. Furthermore, it provides a framework for evaluating multivariate disease risk in other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fletcher W Halliday
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Robert W Heckman
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Peter A Wilfahrt
- Curriculum for the Environment and Ecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Charles E Mitchell
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Curriculum for the Environment and Ecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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13
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Clarke-Crespo E, de León GPP, Montiel-Ortega S, Rubio-Godoy M. Helminth Fauna Associated with Three Neotropical Bat Species (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) in Veracruz, México. J Parasitol 2017; 103:338-342. [DOI: 10.1645/16-59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Clarke-Crespo
- Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Km 2.5 Antigua Carretera a Coatepec, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, México. Correspondence should be sent to Miguel Rubio-Godoy at:
| | - Gerardo Pérez-Ponce de León
- Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Km 2.5 Antigua Carretera a Coatepec, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, México. Correspondence should be sent to Miguel Rubio-Godoy at:
| | - Salvador Montiel-Ortega
- Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Km 2.5 Antigua Carretera a Coatepec, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, México. Correspondence should be sent to Miguel Rubio-Godoy at:
| | - Miguel Rubio-Godoy
- Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Km 2.5 Antigua Carretera a Coatepec, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, México. Correspondence should be sent to Miguel Rubio-Godoy at:
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14
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Helminth parasitism in two closely related South African rodents: abundance, prevalence, species richness and impinging factors. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:1395-1409. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5419-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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15
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Muriel J, Pérez-Rodríguez L, Ortiz-Santaliestra ME, Puerta M, Gil D. Sex-Specific Effects of High Yolk Androgen Levels on Constitutive and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses in Nestlings of an Altricial Passerine. Physiol Biochem Zool 2017; 90:106-117. [DOI: 10.1086/688445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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16
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Chakraborty D, Hussain S, Reddy DM, Raut S, Tiwari S, Kumar V, Umapathy G. Mammalian gastrointestinal parasites in rainforest remnants of Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats, India. J Biosci 2016; 40:399-406. [PMID: 25963266 DOI: 10.1007/s12038-015-9517-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Habitat fragmentation is postulated to be a major factor influencing infectious disease dynamics in wildlife populations and may also be responsible, at least in part, for the recent spurt in the emergence, or re-emergence, of infectious diseases in humans. The mechanism behind these relationships are poorly understood due to the lack of insights into the interacting local factors and insufficient baseline data in ecological parasitology of wildlife. Here, we studied the gastrointestinal parasites of nonhuman mammalian hosts living in 10 rainforest patches of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, India. We examined 349 faecal samples of 17 mammalian species and successfully identified 24 gastrointestinal parasite taxa including 1 protozoan, 2 trematode, 3 cestode and 18 nematode taxa. Twenty of these parasites are known parasites of humans. We also found that as much as 73% of all infected samples were infected by multiple parasites. In addition, the smallest and most fragmented forest patches recorded the highest parasite richness; the pattern across fragments, however, seemed to be less straightforward, suggesting potential interplay of local factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debapriyo Chakraborty
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University and Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
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17
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Chakraborty D, Tiwari S, Reddy DM, Umapathy G. Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Civets of Fragmented Rainforest Patches in Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats, India. J Parasitol 2016; 102:463-7. [PMID: 26829576 DOI: 10.1645/15-834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
: Parasitism, driven by anthropogenic habitat modifications, is being increasingly recognized as a major threat to wildlife. Unfortunately, even baseline parasite data for most wildlife species are lacking in India, including the civets, which are particularly vulnerable due to their proximity to human habitations. Civet fecal samples were collected from 10 forest fragments that vary in size and disturbance level in Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats, India. These samples were screened for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites using fecal floatation and fecal sedimentation techniques. From a total of 180 civet fecal samples, 15 gastrointestinal parasite taxa were recovered, and these species are also known to infect domesticated animals. Additionally, small, disturbed forest fragments recorded higher mean gastrointestinal parasite taxa and greater prevalence when compared to large, undisturbed forest fragments, indicating a potential relationship between anthropogenic activities and gastrointestinal parasitism of civets in the Anamalai Hills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debapriyo Chakraborty
- * Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderbad 500007, India
| | - Sunil Tiwari
- * Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderbad 500007, India
| | - D Mahender Reddy
- * Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderbad 500007, India
| | - Govindhaswamy Umapathy
- * Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderbad 500007, India
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18
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Cutrera AP, Zenuto RR, Lacey EA. Interpopulation differences in parasite load and variable selective pressures on MHC genes inCtenomys talarum. J Mammal 2014. [DOI: 10.1644/13-mamm-a-120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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19
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Kamiya T, O'Dwyer K, Nakagawa S, Poulin R. What determines species richness of parasitic organisms? A meta-analysis across animal, plant and fungal hosts. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2013; 89:123-34. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2013] [Revised: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tsukushi Kamiya
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
| | - Katie O'Dwyer
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology; University of Otago; Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
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20
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Thieltges DW, Amundsen PA, Hechinger RF, Johnson PTJ, Lafferty KD, Mouritsen KN, Preston DL, Reise K, Zander CD, Poulin R. Parasites as prey in aquatic food webs: implications for predator infection and parasite transmission. OIKOS 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2013.00243.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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21
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Wood JR, Wilmshurst JM, Rawlence NJ, Bonner KI, Worthy TH, Kinsella JM, Cooper A. A megafauna's microfauna: gastrointestinal parasites of New Zealand's extinct moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes). PLoS One 2013; 8:e57315. [PMID: 23451203 PMCID: PMC3581471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Accepted: 01/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We perform the first multidisciplinary study of parasites from an extinct megafaunal clade using coprolites from the New Zealand moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes). Ancient DNA and microscopic analyses of 84 coprolites deposited by four moa species (South Island giant moa, Dinornis robustus; little bush moa, Anomalopteryx didiformis; heavy-footed moa, Pachyornis elephantopus; and upland moa, Megalapteryx didinus) reveal an array of gastrointestinal parasites including coccidians (Cryptosporidium and members of the suborder Eimeriorina), nematodes (Heterakoidea, Trichostrongylidae, Trichinellidae) and a trematode (Echinostomida). Parasite eggs were most prevalent and diverse in coprolites from lowland sites, where multiple sympatric moa species occurred and host density was therefore probably higher. Morphological and phylogenetic evidence supports a possible vicariant Gondwanan origin for some of the moa parasites. The discovery of apparently host-specific parasite taxa suggests paleoparasitological studies of megafauna coprolites may provide useful case-studies of coextinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie R Wood
- Landcare Research, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand.
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Abstract
Many studies have identified various host behavioural and ecological traits that are associated with parasite infection, including host gregariousness. By use of meta-analyses, we investigated to what degree parasite prevalence, intensity and species richness are correlated with group size in gregarious species. We predicted that larger groups would have more parasites and higher parasite species richness. We analysed a total of 70 correlations on parasite prevalence, intensity and species richness across different host group sizes. Parasite intensity and prevalence both increased positively with group size, as expected. No significant relationships were found between host group size and parasite species richness, suggesting that larger groups do not harbour more rare or novel parasite species than smaller groups. We further predicted that the mobility of the host (mobile, sedentary) and the mode of parasite transmission (direct, indirect, mobile) would be important predictors of the effects of group sizes on parasite infection. It was found that group size was positively correlated with the prevalence and intensity of directly and indirectly transmitted parasites. However, a negative relationship was observed between group size and mobile parasite intensity, with larger groups having lower parasite intensities. Further, intensities of parasites did not increase with group size of mobile hosts, suggesting that host mobility may negate parasite infection risk. The implications for the evolution and maintenance of sociality in host species are discussed, and future research directions are highlighted.
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Edwards DB. Immune investment is explained by sexual selection and pace-of-life, but not longevity in parrots (Psittaciformes). PLoS One 2012; 7:e53066. [PMID: 23300862 PMCID: PMC3531452 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2012] [Accepted: 11/28/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Investment in current reproduction should come at the expense of traits promoting future reproduction, such as immunity and longevity. To date, comparative studies of pace-of-life traits have provided some support for this, with slower paced species having greater immune function. Another means of investment in current reproduction is through secondary sexual characters (SSC). Investment in SSC's is considered costly, both in terms of immunity and longevity, with greater costs being borne by species with more elaborate traits. Yet within species, females prefer more ornate males and those males are typically immunologically superior. Because of this, predictions about the relationship between immunity and SSC's across species are not clear. If traits are costly, brighter species should have reduced immune function, but the opposite is true if SSC's arise from selection for more immunocompetent individuals. My approach was to investigate immune investment in relation to SSC's, pace-of-life and longevity while considering potentially confounding ecological factors. To do so I assessed leukocyte counts from in a novel group, the Psittaciformes. Investment in SSC's best explained investment in immunity: species with brighter plumage had higher leukocyte counts and those with a greater degree of sexual dichromatism had fewer. Ecological variables and pace-of-life models tended to be poor predictors of immune investment. However, shorter incubation periods were associated with lower leukocyte counts supporting the notion that species with a fast pace-of-life invest less in immunity. These results suggest that investment in reproduction in terms of fast pace-of-life and sexual dichromatism results in reduced immunity; however, investment in plumage colour per se does not impose a cost on immunity across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darryl B Edwards
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
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Flies AS, Grant CK, Mansfield LS, Smith EJ, Weldele ML, Holekamp KE. Development of a hyena immunology toolbox. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2011; 145:110-9. [PMID: 22173276 PMCID: PMC3273618 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2011] [Revised: 09/01/2011] [Accepted: 10/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Animals that hunt and scavenge are often exposed to a broad array of pathogens. Theory predicts the immune systems of animals specialized for scavenging should have been molded by selective pressures associated with surviving microbial assaults from their food. Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are capable hunters that have recently descended from carrion feeding ancestors. Hyenas have been documented to survive anthrax and rabies infections, and outbreaks of several other viral diseases that decimated populations of sympatric carnivores. In light of the extreme disease resistance manifested by spotted hyenas, our objective was to identify tools available for studying immune function in spotted hyenas and use these tools to document the hyena antibody response to immunization. Domestic cats (Felis catus) are the closest phylogenetic relatives of hyenas that have been studied in detail immunologically, and we hypothesized that anti-cat isotype-specific antibodies would cross react with hyena immunoglobulin epitopes. We used ELISA and Western blots to test isotype-specific anti-feline antibodies for specific cross-reaction to hyena Ig epitopes. Molecular weights of heavy (IgA, IgG, IgM) and light chains of hyena immunoglobulins were determined by protein electrophoresis, and as expected, they were found to be similar to feline immunoglobulins. In order to further validate the cross-reactivity of the anti-feline antibodies and document the hyena humoral response, eight spotted hyenas were immunized with dinitrophenol conjugated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNP-KLH) and serum anti-DNP responses were monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for one year. The full array of isotype-specific antibodies identified here will allow veterinarians and other researchers to thoroughly investigate the hyena antibody response, and can be used in future studies to test hypotheses about pathogen exposure and immune function in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Flies
- Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, 203 Natural Sciences Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, USA.
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Benavides JA, Huchard E, Pettorelli N, King AJ, Brown ME, Archer CE, Appleton CC, Raymond M, Cowlishaw G. From parasite encounter to infection: multiple-scale drivers of parasite richness in a wild social primate population. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2011; 147:52-63. [PMID: 21989507 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.21627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Host parasite diversity plays a fundamental role in ecological and evolutionary processes, yet the factors that drive it are still poorly understood. A variety of processes, operating across a range of spatial scales, are likely to influence both the probability of parasite encounter and subsequent infection. Here, we explored eight possible determinants of parasite richness, comprising rainfall and temperature at the population level, ranging behavior and home range productivity at the group level, and age, sex, body condition, and social rank at the individual level. We used a unique dataset describing gastrointestinal parasites in a terrestrial subtropical vertebrate (chacma baboons, Papio ursinus), comprising 662 fecal samples from 86 individuals representing all age-sex classes across two groups over two dry seasons in a desert population. Three mixed models were used to identify the most important factor at each of the three spatial scales (population, group, individual); these were then standardized and combined in a single, global, mixed model. Individual age had the strongest influence on parasite richness, in a convex relationship. Parasite richness was also higher in females and animals in poor condition, albeit at a lower order of magnitude than age. Finally, with a further halving of effect size, parasite richness was positively correlated to day range and temperature. These findings indicate that a range of factors influence host parasite richness through both encounter and infection probabilities but that individual-level processes may be more important than those at the group or population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio A Benavides
- CNRS - Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université Montpellier II, Place Eugène Bataillon, France.
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Biogeographical region and host trophic level determine carnivore endoparasite richness in the Iberian Peninsula. Parasitology 2011; 138:758-65. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182011000345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYWe address the question of whether host and/or environmental factors might affect endoparasite richness and distribution, using carnivores as a model. We reviewed studies published in international peer-reviewed journals (34 areas in the Iberian Peninsula), describing parasite prevalence and richness in carnivores, and collected information on site location, host bio-ecology, climate and detected taxa (Helminths, Protozoa andMycobacteriumspp.). Three hypotheses were tested (i) host based, (ii) environmentally based, and (iii) hybrid (combination of environmental and host). Multicollinearity reduced candidate variable number for modelling to 5: host weight, phylogenetic independent contrasts (host weight), mean annual temperature, host trophic level and biogeographical region. General Linear Mixed Modelling was used and the best model was a hybrid model that included biogeographical region and host trophic level. Results revealed that endoparasite richness is higher in Mediterranean areas, especially for the top predators. We suggest that the detected parasites may benefit from mild environmental conditions that occur in southern regions. Top predators have larger home ranges and are likely to be subjected to cascading effects throughout the food web, resulting in more infestation opportunities and potentially higher endoparasite richness. This study suggests that richness may be more affected by historical and regional processes (including climate) than by host ecological processes.
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Friggens MM, Beier P. Anthropogenic disturbance and the risk of flea-borne disease transmission. Oecologia 2010; 164:809-20. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-010-1747-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2010] [Accepted: 07/27/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Millán J, Gortazar C, Ballesteros F. Parasites of the endangered Cantabrian capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus cantabricus): correlates with host abundance and lek site characteristics. Parasitol Res 2008; 103:709-12. [PMID: 18498000 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-008-1015-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2008] [Accepted: 04/22/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In April 2000, we collected and analyzed for parasites 174 feces belonging to 48 different and identified Cantabrian capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus cantabricus) from 39 lek sites in the Cantabrian Mountains (North Spain) and determined the factors related with prevalence and abundance of propagule excretion: (1) interrelations with other parasite species, (2) characteristics of the capercaillie population (number of capercaillies in the lek site, number of occupied lek sites in a 2-km area, and abundance trend), and (3) characteristics of the lek site (orientation and altitude). The higher prevalence was observed for Eimeria sp. oocysts (29% of feces). Capillaria-like eggs were the most frequently detected among nematodes (9%). Excretion of Heterakis sp., Ascaridia sp., and Trichostrongylus sp. eggs was low. The presence of Capillaria propagules in feces was negatively related with those of Eimeria and Heterakis. This could be explained by differences in parasite transmission and capercaillie exposure because Eimeria and Heterakis have direct life cycle, whereas subfamily Capillariinae includes many heteroxenous species. Capillaria eggs were more prevalent in lek sites at lower altitude, which could be explained by altitude-related factors such as humidity, temperature, or soil characteristics that may affect intermediate host abundance. Although no relation was found with host abundance, the low parasite species diversity, prevalence, and abundance may indirectly reflect the decline of the Cantabrian capercaillie populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Millán
- Fundació Natura Parc, Santa Eugènia (Balearic Islands), Spain.
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Lee KA, Wikelski M, Robinson WD, Robinson TR, Klasing KC. Constitutive immune defences correlate with life-history variables in tropical birds. J Anim Ecol 2008; 77:356-63. [PMID: 18194261 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2007.01347.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
1. It has been suggested that immune defences are shaped by life history and ecology, but few general patterns have been described across species. We hypothesized that 'fast' life-history traits (e.g. short development times, large clutch sizes) would be associated with developmentally inexpensive immune defences, minimizing the resource demands of young animals' immune systems during periods of rapid growth. Conversely, 'slow' life histories should be associated with well developed antibody-mediated defences, which are developmentally costly. 2. We therefore predicted that 'fast-living' species would exhibit higher levels of complement proteins, a component of non-specific innate defence, but lower levels of constitutive ('natural') antibodies. Additionally, we predicted that constitutive immune defences in general would be higher in species with ecological characteristics that might increase exposure to pathogens, such as open nests, omnivorous diets, gregariousness, and closed forested habitat. 3. Across 70 Neotropical bird species, we found a strongly positive relationship between incubation period and natural antibody levels in adult birds, suggesting that longer developmental times might allow the production of a more diverse and/or more reactive adaptive immune system. Complement activity was positively, although weakly, correlated with clutch size, providing some support for the hypothesis that faster-living species rely more on innate defences, such as complement. Unexpectedly, solitary species had higher natural antibody titres than species that frequently join flocks. 4. Our results suggest that, despite probably widespread differences in the intensity and diversity of pathogen exposure, species-level variation in constitutive immune defences is understandable within the context of life-history theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Lee
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Korallo NP, Vinarski MV, Krasnov BR, Shenbrot GI, Mouillot D, Poulin R. Are there general rules governing parasite diversity? Small mammalian hosts and gamasid mite assemblages. DIVERS DISTRIB 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2007.00332.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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López G, Figuerola J, Soriguer R. Time of day, age and feeding habits influence coccidian oocyst shedding in wild passerines. Int J Parasitol 2007; 37:559-64. [PMID: 17289051 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2006.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2006] [Revised: 12/11/2006] [Accepted: 12/12/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Protozoan coccidia are one of the most common intestinal parasites in birds. Ordinary coccidian detection and quantification techniques have proved to be inaccurate for wild passerines due to the existence of marked oocyst shedding rhythms throughout the day. Previous studies have suggested that these rhythms should be taken into account when analysing coccidian load and prevalence data, but their pattern and magnitude still remain poorly known. In this study we characterised shedding rhythms in the field by means of 406 samples of faeces taken from two species of passerines with different diets: the European Serin (a granivorous species), and the Garden Warbler (an insectivorous species). Both coccidian prevalence and load were two-phased, with maximums occurring in the afternoon. Oocyst elimination remained consistently high during the second half of the day, whereas prevalence peaked during the afternoon, lowering throughout the evening. This pattern was found in both species. We found a high repeatability of prevalence and intensity when differences between the morning and afternoon were statistically controlled. As a result, we suggest that sampling periods used in the analysis of coccidian prevalence and/or load studies should take into account these differences in times of shedding and be limited to the afternoon, otherwise a statistical control of this factor will be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo López
- Dto. Biología Aplicada, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. María Luisa s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain.
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Ezenwa VO, Price SA, Altizer S, Vitone ND, Cook KC. Host traits and parasite species richness in even and odd-toed hoofed mammals, Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla. OIKOS 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.2006.0030-1299.15186.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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35
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MARTINEZ-PADILLA J, MARTINEZ J, DAVILA JA, MERINO S, MORENO J, MILLAN J. Within-brood size differences, sex and parasites determine blood stress protein levels in Eurasian Kestrel nestlings. Funct Ecol 2004. [DOI: 10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00874.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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36
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Laakkonen J, Fisher RN, Case TJ. Microparasite assemblages of conspecific shrew populations in southern California. J Parasitol 2004; 89:1153-8. [PMID: 14740903 DOI: 10.1645/ge-3180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The microparasite component communities of 2 species of shrews, Notiosorex crawfordi and Sorex ornatus, were investigated for the first time in 2 isolated and 3 continuous landscapes in southern California. With microscopical examination, a total of 6 parasite species was found in N. crawfordi and 8 species in S. ornatus. The highest number (5) of parasite species was detected in the lungs. The corrected estimate of parasite species richness did not significantly correlate with the host abundance in either shrew species. Altitude, and also latitude in N. crawfordi, appeared to be significantly positively associated with the parasite species richness, but this could be due to a false association because of the rare occurrence of some of the parasites or the small altitude range (or both). No other landscape variable analyzed (location, size of the study site, disturbance) was significantly associated with the parasite species richness of the shrews. The parasite assemblages of the 2 shrew species were similar despite the fact that N. crawfordi has a lower metabolic rate than S. ornatus.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- California/epidemiology
- Ectoparasitic Infestations/epidemiology
- Ectoparasitic Infestations/parasitology
- Ectoparasitic Infestations/veterinary
- Female
- Helminthiasis, Animal/epidemiology
- Helminthiasis, Animal/parasitology
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary
- Logistic Models
- Lung Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology
- Lung Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology
- Lung Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary
- Male
- Protozoan Infections, Animal/epidemiology
- Protozoan Infections, Animal/parasitology
- Shrews/parasitology
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Laakkonen
- Section of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Division of Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0116, USA.
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Mouillot D, Poulin R. Taxonomic partitioning shedding light on the diversification of parasite communities. OIKOS 2004. [DOI: 10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12833.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Wilson K, Knell R, Boots M, Koch-Osborne J. Group living and investment in immune defence: an interspecific analysis. J Anim Ecol 2003. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2003.00680.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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39
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Vidya TNC, Sukumar R. The effect of some ecological factors on the intestinal parasite loads of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in southern India. J Biosci 2002; 27:521-8. [PMID: 12381877 DOI: 10.1007/bf02705050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Some ecological factors that might potentially influence intestinal parasite loads in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus Linn.) were investigated in the Nilgiris, southern India. Fresh dung samples from identified animals were analysed, and the number of eggs/g of dung used as an index of parasite load. Comparisons across seasons and habitats revealed that parasite loads were significantly higher during the dry season than the wet season, but were not different between the dry-deciduous and dry-thorn forests in either season. After accounting for the effect of age on body condition, there was no correlation between body condition, assessed visually using morphological criteria, and parasite load in either season. Individuals of different elephant herds were not characterized by distinct parasite communities in either season. When intra-individual variation was examined, samples collected from the same individual within a day differed significantly in egg densities, while the temporal variation over several weeks or months (within a season) was much less. Egg densities within dung piles were uniform, enabling a simpler collection method henceforth.
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Affiliation(s)
- T N C Vidya
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
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40
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Marathe RR, Goel SS, Ranade SP, Jog MM, Watve MG. Patterns in abundance and diversity of faecally dispersed parasites of tiger in Tadoba National Park, central India. BMC Ecol 2002; 2:6. [PMID: 12000685 PMCID: PMC111199 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-2-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2001] [Accepted: 05/08/2002] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Importance of parasites in ecological and evolutionary interactions is being increasingly recognized. However, ecological data on parasites of important host species is still scanty. We analyze the patterns seen in the faecal parasites of tigers in the Tadoba National Park, India, and speculate on the factors and processes shaping the parasite community and the possible implications for tiger ecology. RESULTS The prevalence and intensities were high and the parasite community was dominated by indirect life cycle parasites. Across all genera of parasites variance scaled with the square of the mean and there was a significant positive correlation between prevalence and abundance. There was no significant association between different types of parasites. CONCLUSIONS The 70 samples analyzed formed 14 distinct clusters. If we assume each of the clusters to represent individual tigers that were sampled repeatedly and that resident tigers are more likely to be sampled repeatedly, the presumed transient tigers had significantly greater parasite loads than the presumed resident ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul R Marathe
- Department of Microbiology, Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune 411 004, India
| | - Shantanu S Goel
- Life Research Foundation 10, Pranav, 1000/6-c Navi Peth, Pune 411 030, India
| | - Sachin P Ranade
- Department of Microbiology, Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune 411 004, India
| | - Maithili M Jog
- Department of Microbiology, Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune 411 004, India
| | - Milind G Watve
- Department of Microbiology, Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune 411 004, India
- Life Research Foundation 10, Pranav, 1000/6-c Navi Peth, Pune 411 030, India
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Wise MR, Janovy J, Wise JC. Host specificity in Metamera sillasenorum, n. sp., a gregarine parasite of the leech Helobdella triserialis with notes on transmission dynamics. J Parasitol 2000; 86:602-6. [PMID: 10864260 DOI: 10.1645/0022-3395(2000)086[0602:hsimsn]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Eugregarines of the suborder Septatorina are apicomplexan parasites that are found mainly in arthropods. Some exceptions are species in the Metameridae that contains the only 5 septate gregarines recorded from annelids. The type genus is Metamera Duke, 1910 with 2 species, Metamera schubergi Duke, 1910, in European Glossiphonia complanata, and Metamera reynoldsi Jones, 1943, from North American G. complanata. Over the summers of 1995-1998, in Keith County, Nebraska, septate gregarines were found in the glossiphoniid leech Helobdella triserialis. The gregarines were determined to be a new species of Metamera, herein named Metamera sillasenorum. Measurements of size and body proportions of over 600 gregarines and 50 oocysts showed differences from measurements of M. schubergi and M. reynoldsi, and secondary septa in the deutomerite were rarely observed. Field observations indicated that M. sillasenorum is probably host specific. In the laboratory, leeches also exhibited strong feeding preferences; e.g., H. triserialis and G. complanata consumed only snails, whereas Helobdella stagnalis consumed only oligochaetes. Infection experiments demonstrated that freshwater snails ingest the oocysts and are required as mechanical vectors. Oocysts were passed unaltered through the snails' intestines. Glossiphonia complanata did not become infected regardless of heavy exposure to oocysts, although only 5 G. complanata were used in the experiments. The results show that host specificity of M. sillasenorum is most likely due to a combination of host-feeding habits and host-parasite compatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Wise
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln 68688-0118, USA
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Vickery WL, Poulin R. Parasite extinction and colonisation and the evolution of parasite communities: a simulation study. Int J Parasitol 1998; 28:727-37. [PMID: 9650052 DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7519(98)00036-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
We determined what evolutionary processes influence the likelihood of detecting an effect of host ecological characteristics on the richness of parasite communities in comparative analyses among related host species. We used a mathematical model to generate phylogenies of hosts in which parasite communities varied over evolutionary time as parasite species were either gained or lost during host speciation events. Gain or loss of parasites were stochastic and could either be strongly, moderately, weakly, or not, affected by host ecological characteristics. The model was evaluated over this range of effects of host ecology, and for various mean probabilities of parasite gain and loss and various rates of change in host ecological characteristics at speciation events. Our results suggest that phylogenetic effects (the passing of parasite species from mother to daughter host species) are likely to obscure ecological effects (the effect of host body size, diet, habitat, lifespan, etc.) except when the effects of host ecology are strong, and the probabilities of gain or loss of parasites are high, or host ecological characteristics change markedly at speciation events. This outcome was not influenced by the shape of the phylogenetic tree used in the simulations. Sensitivity analysis of our model also shows this result to be robust to a wide range of assumptions and parameter values. Thus, because the composition of parasite communities tends to reflect their ancestry, the effect of host ecology will often be very difficult to detect.
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Affiliation(s)
- W L Vickery
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand; e-mail:
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