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Shanebeck KM, Besson AA, Lagrue C, Green SJ. The energetic costs of sub-lethal helminth parasites in mammals: a meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1886-1907. [PMID: 35678252 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Parasites, by definition, have a negative effect on their host. However, in wild mammal health and conservation research, sub-lethal infections are commonly assumed to have negligible health effects unless parasites are present in overwhelming numbers. Here, we propose a definition for host health in mammals that includes sub-lethal effects of parasites on the host's capacity to adapt to the environment and maintain homeostasis. We synthesized the growing number of studies on helminth parasites in mammals to assess evidence for the relative magnitude of sub-lethal effects of infection across mammal taxa based on this expanded definition. Specifically, we develop and apply a framework for organizing disparate metrics of parasite effects on host health and body condition according to their impact on an animal's energetic condition, defined as the energetic burden of pathogens on host physiological and behavioural functions that relate directly to fitness. Applying this framework within a global meta-analysis of helminth parasites in wild, laboratory and domestic mammal hosts produced 142 peer-reviewed studies documenting 599 infection-condition effects. Analysing these data within a multiple working hypotheses framework allowed us to evaluate the relative weighted contribution of methodological (study design, sampling protocol, parasite quantification methods) and biological (phylogenetic relationships and host/parasite life history) moderators to variation in the magnitude of health effects. We found consistently strong negative effects of infection on host energetic condition across taxonomic groups, with unusually low heterogeneity in effect sizes when compared with other ecological meta-analyses. Observed effect size was significantly lower within cross-sectional studies (i.e. observational studies that investigated a sub-set of a population at a single point in time), the most prevalent methodology. Furthermore, opportunistic sampling led to a weaker negative effect compared to proactive sampling. In the model of host taxonomic group, the effect of infection on energetic condition in carnivores was not significant. However, when sampling method was included, it explained substantial inter-study variance; proactive sampling showing a strongly significant negative effect while opportunistic sampling detected only a weak, non-significant effect. This may partly underlie previous assumptions that sub-lethal parasites do not have significant effects on host health. We recommend future studies adopt energetic condition as the framework for assessing parasite effects on wildlife health and provide guidelines for the selection of research protocols, health proxies, and relating infection to fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle M Shanebeck
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 11455 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anne A Besson
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Clement Lagrue
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 11455 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand.,Department of Conservation, 265 Princes Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Stephanie J Green
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 11455 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Napoli E, Anile S, Arrabito C, Scornavacca D, Mazzamuto MV, Gaglio G, Otranto D, Giannetto S, Brianti E. Survey on parasitic infections in wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777) by scat collection. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:255-61. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4742-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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3
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Crait JR, McIntosh AD, Greiner EC, Ben-David M. The Influence of Changing Prey Availability on the Prevalence ofDiphyllobothriumin River Otters from Yellowstone National Park. J Parasitol 2015; 101:240-3. [DOI: 10.1645/14-546.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Falsone L, Brianti E, Gaglio G, Napoli E, Anile S, Mallia E, Giannelli A, Poglayen G, Giannetto S, Otranto D. The European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) as reservoir hosts of Troglostrongylus brevior (Strongylida: Crenosomatidae) lungworms. Vet Parasitol 2014; 205:193-8. [PMID: 25027610 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 05/31/2014] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The increasing reports of Troglostrongylus brevior lungworm in domestic cats from Italy and Spain raised questions on its factual distribution and on the role wildcats play as reservoirs of these parasites. Carcasses of 21 wildcats were collected in natural parks of southern Italy (i.e., Catania, Sicily n=5 and Matera, Basilicata n=16) and biometrically and genetically identified as Felis silvestris silvestris, but two as hybrids. Troglostrongylus brevior and Eucoleus aerophilus lungworms were found in 15 (71.4%) and 7 (33.3%) individuals, respectively, being five (23.8%) co-infected by the two species. Both lungworms showed an aggregated distribution in the host population, assessed by k-index (i.e., 0.69 for T. brevior and 0.42 for E. aerophilus). Although no statistical significant difference was recorded among age, gender and geographical location of wildcats, a larger rate of infection by T. brevior was assessed in yearlings (85.7%) than adults (64.3%). This is the first epidemiological study reporting T. brevior infection in the European wildcat and discusses the potential threat this may represent for the conservation of this endangered species of felids. In addition, given the large frequency of lungworm infection herein recorded, the role of wildcats as reservoir hosts of these parasites to domestic cats is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Falsone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - E Brianti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy.
| | - G Gaglio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - E Napoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - S Anile
- Dipartimento di Biologia Animale "Marcello La Greca", Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - E Mallia
- Parco Regionale Gallipoli Cognato e Piccole Dolomiti Lucane, Basilicata, MT, Italy
| | - A Giannelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
| | - G Poglayen
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - S Giannetto
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - D Otranto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
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Mohd Zain SN, Sahimin N, Pal P, Lewis JW. Macroparasite communities in stray cat populations from urban cities in Peninsular Malaysia. Vet Parasitol 2013; 196:469-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Revised: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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GALIMBERTI A, ROMANO DF, GENCHI M, PAOLONI D, VERCILLO F, BIZZARRI L, SASSERA D, BANDI C, GENCHI C, RAGNI B, CASIRAGHI M. Integrative taxonomy at work: DNA barcoding of taeniids harboured by wild and domestic cats. Mol Ecol Resour 2012; 12:403-13. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2011.03110.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A. GALIMBERTI
- Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - D. F. ROMANO
- Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - M. GENCHI
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Parassitologia, Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - D. PAOLONI
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - F. VERCILLO
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - L. BIZZARRI
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - D. SASSERA
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Parassitologia, Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - C. BANDI
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Parassitologia, Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - C. GENCHI
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Sezione di Patologia Generale e Parassitologia, Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - B. RAGNI
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - M. CASIRAGHI
- Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
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Millán J, Casanova JC. High prevalence of helminth parasites in feral cats in Majorca Island (Spain). Parasitol Res 2009; 106:183-8. [PMID: 19841943 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-009-1647-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2009] [Accepted: 09/23/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Feral cats are widespread in the countryside of Majorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). Since they are not subject of sanitary control, they can act as reservoir of parasites of veterinary and zoonotic interest. The main organs of 58 wild-trapped cats in 16 different areas from Majorca were analyzed by helminths. All the cats were parasitized, and eight species of helminths were retrieved (mean = 3.4 species per cat, with 74% of the cats harboring three or more species). Seven of them presented a prevalence >20%: Joyeuxiella pasqualei (76%), Diplopylidium acanthotetra (60%), Dipylidium carracidoi (33%), Taenia taeniaeformis (22%), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (91%), and Toxocara cati (35%) in the gastrointestinal tract, and Oslerus rostratus (24%) in lungs. The A. tubaeforme prevalence and intensity (mean = 30, up to 396) is the highest recorded for a population of cats. Prevalence and abundance of J. pasqualei and D. acanthotetra were strongly associated, secondary to the use of the same intermediary host (geckos). Other positive associations found are probably related to host susceptibility. Abundance of D. acanthotetra, T. cati, and A. tubaeforme and the number of species per host were negatively correlated with cat body condition (assessed by the kidney fat index). Females were more frequently parasitized by A. tubaeforme than males, and adult females were more heavily infested by J. pasqualei and D. acanthotetra than cats from other groups. These and other findings are discussed in relation with host ecology. Feral cats serve as reservoirs of helminths in the countryside of Majorca and their populations should be controlled.
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Abu-Madi MA, Al-Ahbabi DA, Al-Mashhadani MM, Al-Ibrahim R, Pal P, Lewis JW. Patterns of parasitic infections in faecal samples from stray cat populations in Qatar. J Helminthol 2008; 81:281-6. [PMID: 17875227 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x07818505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The parasite fauna of stray cat populations, comprising mainly helminth parasites, is described for the first time from the arid environment of the Qatar peninsula. During the winter and summer months of 2005, 824 faecal samples were examined from six sites in Qatar. Up to seven species of parasites were identified, six of which were nematodes - Strongyloides stercoralis as the most prevalent (18.4%), followed by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (7.5%), Toxocara cati (6.1%), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (5.9%) and Physaloptera sp. (4.8%) and Toxascaris leonina (0.7%) - and one sporozoan species, Isospora felis (0.5%). Unidentified cestode eggs were also recovered from 10.7% of samples examined. The parasite species were found to be highly overdispersed in faecal samples from all sites, whereas the prevalence and intensity of infections were influenced by site and season. Infection levels tended to be higher during the winter season, especially in the case of A. abstrusus and A. tubaeforme, when conditions of temperature and humidity were more favourable for the development of egg and/or larval stages of parasites compared with the extremely hot and dry summer months. The results are discussed in relation to the distribution of the cat population in the vicinity of Doha and its outskirts and the potential threat of parasite transmission to human communities in Qatar.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Abu-Madi
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
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Abu-Madi MA, Pal P, Al-Thani A, Lewis JW. Descriptive epidemiology of intestinal helminth parasites from stray cat populations in Qatar. J Helminthol 2008; 82:59-68. [PMID: 18199386 DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X07870830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A total of 488 stray cats, 212 adult and 29 juvenile females plus 235 adult and 12 juvenile males, were examined post-mortem during the winter and summer months of 2006 from five sites in the vicinity of Doha and its outskirts. Five helminths, comprising three nematode and two cestode species were identified and the majority of cats harboured two of these species. The most prevalent was the cestode Taenia taeniaeformis (75.8%), followed by the cestode Diplopylidium sp. (42.8%), and the nematodes Ancylostoma tubaeforme (17.0%), Physaloptera sp. (6.6%) and Toxocara cati (0.8%). All five species were found to be typically overdispersed in their distribution. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, the prevalence and abundance of infections were primarily influenced by host gender and season, with females tending to harbour higher levels of infection during the summer. No significant differences were found relative to site except in the case of Physaloptera sp. Using bivariate Pearson product moment correlations, significant positive co-occurrences were identified between Diplopylidium sp. and T. taeniaeformis and also between A. tubaeforme and T. taeniaeformis. The results are discussed in relation to the effect of environmental conditions on the intestinal helminth infracommunities and their possible interactions in stray cat populations from such a harsh and arid region as Qatar.
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Püttker T, Meyer-Lucht Y, Sommer S. Effects of fragmentation on parasite burden (nematodes) of generalist and specialist small mammal species in secondary forest fragments of the coastal Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Ecol Res 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s11284-007-0366-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Deter J, Berthier K, Chaval Y, Cosson JF, Morand S, Charbonnel N. Influence of geographical scale on the detection of density dependence in the host-parasite system,Arvicola terrestrisandTaenia taeniaeformis. Parasitology 2005; 132:595-605. [PMID: 16329763 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182005009327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2005] [Revised: 09/21/2005] [Accepted: 10/06/2005] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Infection by the cestodeTaenia taeniaeformiswas investigated within numerous cyclic populations of the fossorial water voleArvicola terrestrissampled during 4 years in Franche-Comté (France). The relative influence of different rodent demographic parameters on the presence of this cestode was assessed by considering (1) the demographic phase of the cycle; (2) density at the local geographical scale (<0·1 km2); (3) mean density at a larger scale (>10 km2). The local scale corresponded to the rodent population (intermediate host), while the large scale corresponded to the definitive host population (wild and feral cats). General linear models based on analyses of 1804 voles revealed the importance of local density but also of year, rodent age, season and interactions between year and season and between age and season. Prevalence was significantly higher in low vole densities than during local outbreaks. By contrast, the large geographical scale density and the demographic phase had less influence on infection by the cestode. The potential impacts of the cestode on the fitness of the host were assessed and infection had no effect on the host body mass, litter size or sexual activity of voles.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Deter
- INRA, UMR Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations, Campus international de Baillarguet, CS 30 016-34 988 Montferrier sur Lez, France.
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Abstract
Free-roaming dogs or cats are domestic dogs and cats that are not confined to a yard or house. Free-roaming dogs and cats have long caused major public-health problems and animal-welfare concerns in many countries. Free-roaming dogs have been considered to be more of a problem than cats for several reasons, but the literature addressing dogs focuses primarily on their role in rabies spread and control. Free-roaming cats are becoming more of an issue in countries where free-roaming dog problems are coming under control. The change in perception of pets, beyond their value as a commodity, has also contributed to the increase in concern and attention focused on free-roaming dogs and cats. Epidemiologists have contributed much to these studies of these populations and have potential to contribute even more. The epidemiologic methods and approaches, the experience of epidemiologists in interdisciplinary teams and the importance of considering the separate sub-populations in study design and analysis all are critical in designing and evaluating interventions for free-roaming dogs and cats. In this paper, I will (1) describe a set of useful definitions regarding free-roaming dogs and cats, (2) summarize past and present topics of study in free-roaming dogs and cats, using selected examples, (3) describe the limitations of existing work and how epidemiologists might strengthen and improve this work, and (4) outline areas needing more attention by epidemiologists and why these are important.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Slater
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, MS 4458 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA.
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