scholarly journals Bovine tuberculosis disturbs parasite functional trait composition in African buffalo

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (29) ◽  
pp. 14645-14650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna R. Beechler ◽  
Kate S. Boersma ◽  
Peter E. Buss ◽  
Courtney A. C. Coon ◽  
Erin E. Gorsich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Parasite Richness

Novel parasites can have wide-ranging impacts, not only on host populations, but also on the resident parasite community. Historically, impacts of novel parasites have been assessed by examining pairwise interactions between parasite species. However, parasite communities are complex networks of interacting species. Here we used multivariate taxonomic and trait-based approaches to determine how parasite community composition changed when African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) acquired an emerging disease, bovine tuberculosis (BTB). Both taxonomic and functional parasite richness increased significantly in animals that acquired BTB than in those that did not. Thus, the presence of BTB seems to catalyze extraordinary shifts in community composition. There were no differences in overall parasite taxonomic composition between infected and uninfected individuals, however. The trait-based analysis revealed an increase in direct-transmitted, quickly replicating parasites following BTB infection. This study demonstrates that trait-based approaches provide insight into parasite community dynamics in the context of emerging infections.

The ecology of parasites of freshwater fishes: the search for patterns

Parasitology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 136 (12) ◽  
pp. 1653-1662 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. KENNEDY
Keyword(s):  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Freshwater Fishes ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Population And Community Dynamics ◽  
Parasite Populations

SUMMARYDevelopments in the study of the ecology of helminth parasites of freshwater fishes over the last half century are reviewed. Most research has of necessity been field based and has involved the search for patterns in population and community dynamics that are repeatable in space and time. Mathematical models predict that under certain conditions host and parasite populations can attain equilibrial levels through operation of regulatory factors. Such factors have been identified in several host-parasite systems and some parasite populations have been shown to persist over long time-periods. However, there is no convincing evidence that fish parasite populations are stable and regulated since in all cases alternative explanations are equally acceptable and it appears that they are non-equilibrial systems. It has proved particularly difficult to detect replicable patterns in parasite communities. Inter-specific competition, evidenced by functional and numerical responses, has been detected in several communities but its occurrence is erratic and its significance unclear. Some studies have failed to find any nested patterns in parasite community structure and richness, whereas others have identified such patterns although they are seldom constant over space and time. Departures from randomness appear to be the exception and then only temporary. It appears that parasite communities are non-equilibrial, stochastic assemblages rather than structured and organized.

Consistent differences in macroparasite community composition among populations of three-spined sticklebacks,Gasterosteus aculeatusL.

Parasitology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (11) ◽  
pp. 1478-1491 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOB DE ROIJ ◽  
ANDREW D. C. MacCOLL
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Geographical Distances ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Relative Differences

SUMMARYParasite ecologists are often interested in the repeatability of patterns in parasite communities in space and/or time, because of implications for the dynamics of host-parasite interactions. Field studies usually examine temporal and spatial variation in isolation or limit themselves to a small number of host populations. Here, we studied the macroparasite communities of 12 populations of three-spined stickleback,Gasterosteus aculeatusL., on North Uist, Scotland, separated by small geographical distances, during the breeding season in 2 consecutive years (2007 and 2008) to determine: (1) the extent of spatial variation in macroparasite communities, (2) whether this variation is consistent across years, and (3) whether habitat characteristics can explain differences in macroparasite community composition among populations. We found substantial variation in parasite communities among populations. Generally, measures of parasite community composition were higher in 2008 than in 2007, but this effect of year was consistent across populations, such that the relative differences in these measures among populations changed little between years. These data suggest that there is short-term stability in the spatial variation in macroparasite communities of North Uist sticklebacks. However, none of the 5 habitat characteristics measured explained spatial variation in any measure of parasite community composition.

Parasites communities in the clingfish Gobiesox marmoratus from central Chile

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Trematode Species ◽  
Maturity Stage ◽  
Parasite Abundance ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Parasite Richness ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Parasite Populations

AbstractThis study investigated the factors (i.e., season, locality, sampling year, total length and maturity stage of the hosts) that might influence the structure of parasite populations and communities in the clingfish Gobiesox marmoratus. The parasite community was described and analyzed using numerical descriptors, such as prevalence, intensity and species richness, between factors previously mentioned. A total of 260 clingfish were collected from 2 localities of central Chile, four seasons and during 3 year cycles (from July 2006 to July 2009). In the whole clingfish sample, 668 parasites were found, which belonged to 14 parasite taxa; 9 of them were new records in G. marmoratus. Parasite infracommunity richness ranged 0–3 species, although 1 trematode species, Helicometrina nimia, represented 80% of all parasites collected and was the most abundant and prevalent parasite species. The average of parasite abundance and intensity (± SD) was 2.5 ± 8.2 and 7.5 ± 12.7, respectively. Generalized linear model showed that parasite communities were influenced by season, locality, sampling year, and maturity stage when considering the abundance and intensity of parasites. For the parasite richness, only the locality and maturity of fish was determinant for explaining the differences. The populations and communities of the parasite variations were variable due to differences in fish body length because prevalence, abundance and intensity of parasites significantly correlated with the fish body length. Concordantly, maturity fish were longer than immature fish. Thus, clingfish from El Tabo were longest and mature, which harbored higher parasite richness than those fish from Las Cruces.

scholarly journals Helminth community dynamics in a population of Pseudopaludicola pocoto (Leptodactylidae: Leiuperinae) from Northeast-Brazilian

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 292-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. De S. Silva ◽  
R. W. Ávila ◽  
D. H. Morais
Keyword(s):  
Rainy Season ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Low Latitudes ◽  
Dry And Rainy Seasons

Abstract Climatic variation in low latitudes influences the dynamics and structure of parasite communities. Environmental changes caused by dry and rainy seasons alter prevalence and abundance of endoparasite communities. In addition to providing a list of the helminth species associated with the swamp frog Pseudopaludicola pocoto, this study aimed to investigate the effects of rainfall and temperature on parasitological descriptors of helminths associated with P. pocoto in an area of the semiarid zone. A total of 817 swamp frog specimens were collected between 2013 and 2017, with four sampling expeditions during the dry season and four during the rainy season. Environmental parameters of temperature and rainfall were compared to the parasitological descriptors of prevalence, abundance and mean infection intensity of the parasite community using a multivariate linear regression. A richness of eight parasite species was identified, including Nematoda (Rhabdias sp., Cosmocerca parva, Oxyascaris oxyascaris, Physaloptera sp., Brevimulticaecum sp., Spiroxys sp. and unidentified nematode) and Acanthocephala (cystacanths). Rainfall levels had a significant effect on the infection intensity of Rhabdias sp. being the presence of this species higher during the rainy season, whereas no influence of temperature was observed on the helminth community.

scholarly journals Latitudinal gradient in the taxonomic composition of parasite communities

2010 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Poulin ◽  
T.L.F Leung
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Latitudinal Gradients ◽  
Latitudinal Variation ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Vertebrate Hosts ◽  
Parasite Assemblages

AbstractAlthough latitudinal gradients in diversity have been well studied, latitudinal variation in the taxonomic composition of communities has received less attention. Here, we use a large dataset including 950 surveys of helminth endoparasite communities in 650 species of vertebrate hosts to test for latitudinal changes in the relative contributions of trematodes, cestodes, nematodes and acanthocephalans to parasite assemblages. Although the species richness of helminth communities showed no consistent latitudinal variation, their taxonomic composition varied as a function of both host type and latitude. First, trematodes and acanthocephalans accounted for a higher proportion of species in helminth communities of fish, whereas nematodes achieved a higher proportion of the species in communities of bird and especially mammal hosts. Second, the proportion of trematodes in helminth communities of birds and mammals increased toward higher latitudes. Finally, the proportion of nematodes per community increased toward lower latitudes regardless of the type of host. We present tentative explanations for these patterns, and argue that new insights in parasite community ecology can be gained by searching for latitudinal gradients not only in parasite species richness, but also in the taxonomic composition of parasite assemblages.

Richness patterns in the parasite communities of exotic poeciliid fishes

Parasitology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 609-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. M. DOVE
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Theoretical Modelling ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Parasite Richness ◽  
Host Sex ◽  
Native Fishes

Three species of poeciliids (Gambusia holbrooki, Xiphophorus helleri and X. maculatus) and 15 species of ecologically similar native freshwater fishes (mainly eleotrids, ambassids, melanotaeniids and retropinnids) were examined for parasite richness to investigate parasite flux, qualitative differences, quantitative differences and the structuring factors in parasite communities in the 2 fish types in Queensland, Australia. Theory suggests that poeciliids would harbour depauperate parasite communities. Results supported this hypothesis; poeciliids harboured more species-poor parasite infracommunities and regional faunas than natives (P < 0·0001), despite greater sampling effort for the former. Cluster analysis of presence/absence data for poeciliids and the 6 most-sampled native fishes revealed that parasite communities of the 2 fish groups are qualitatively distinct; the proportion of parasite species with complex life-cycles was lower in poeciliids than in native species, and Myxosporea, Microspora, Coccidia and parasitic Crustacea were all absent from poeciliids. Limited exchange of parasite species has occurred between natives and poeciliids. Logistic ordinal regression analysis revealed that fish origin (exotic or native), environmental disturbance and host sex were all significant determinants of parasite community richness (P < 0·05). Theoretical modelling suggests that poeciliids are at a competitive advantage over native fishes because of their lack of parasites.

scholarly journals Longitudinal assessment of the bovine ocular bacterial community dynamics in calves

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison C. Bartenslager ◽  
Nirosh D. Althuge ◽  
John Dustin Loy ◽  
Matthew M. Hille ◽  
Matthew L. Spangler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Community ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Sampling Time ◽  
Experimental Population ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), commonly known as pinkeye, is one of the most significant diseases of beef cattle. As such, IBK costs the US beef industry at least 150 million annually. However, strategies to prevent IBK are limited, with most cases resulting in treatment with antibiotics once the disease has developed. Longitudinal studies evaluating establishment of the ocular microbiota may identify critical risk periods for IBK outbreaks or changes in the microbiota that may predispose animals to IBK. Results In an attempt to characterize the establishment and colonization patterns of the bovine ocular microbiota, we conducted a longitudinal study consisting of 227 calves and evaluated the microbiota composition over time using amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) based on 16S rRNA sequencing data and culture-based approaches. Beef calves on trial consisted of both male (intact) and females. Breeds were composed of purebred Angus and composites with varying percentages of Simmental, Angus, and Red Angus breeds. Average age at the start of the trial was 65 days ±15.02 and all calves remained nursing on their dam until weaning (day 139 of the study). The trial consisted of 139 days with four sampling time points on day 0, 21, 41, and 139. The experimental population received three different vaccination treatments (autogenous, commercial (both inactivated bacteria), and adjuvant placebo), to assess the effectiveness of different vaccines for IBK prevention. A significant change in bacterial community composition was observed across time periods sampled compared to the baseline (p < 0.001). However, no treatment effect of vaccine was detected within the ocular bacterial community. The bacterial community composition with the greatest time span between sampling time periods (98d span) was most similar to the baseline sample collected, suggesting re-establishment of the ocular microbiota to baseline levels over time after perturbation. The effect of IgA levels on the microbial community was investigated in a subset of cattle within the study. However, no significant effect of IgA was observed. Significant changes in the ocular microbiota were identified when comparing communities pre- and post-clinical signs of IBK. Additionally, dynamic changes in opportunistic pathogens Moraxella spp. were observed and confirmed using culture based methods. Conclusions Our results indicate that the bovine ocular microbiota is well represented by opportunistic pathogens such as Moraxella and Mycoplasma. Furthermore, this study characterizes the diversity of the ocular microbiota in calves and demonstrates the plasticity of the ocular microbiota to change. Additionally, we demonstrate the ocular microbiome in calves is similar between the eyes and the perturbation of one eye results in similar changes in the other eye. We also demonstrate the bovine ocular microbiota is slow to recover post perturbation and as a result provide opportunistic pathogens a chance to establish within the eye leading to IBK and other diseases. Characterizing the dynamic nature of the ocular microbiota provides novel opportunities to develop potential probiotic intervention to reduce IBK outbreaks in cattle.

scholarly journals Disease, predation and demography: assessing the impacts of bovine tuberculosis on African buffalo by monitoring at individual and population levels

2009 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Cross ◽  
D. M. Heisey ◽  
J. A. Bowers ◽  
C. T. Hay ◽  
J. Wolhuter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
African Buffalo

scholarly journals Species composition and structure of parasites component communities of tugun Coregonus tugun (Pallas, 1814) from the Khatanga and Yenisei Rivers

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 72-80
Author(s):  
Kseniya Viktorovna Polyaeva ◽  
Gennady Nikolaevich Dorovskikh ◽  
Yuliya Konstantinovna Chugunova
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Species Composition And Structure

Tugun Coregonus tugun (Pallas, 1814) is an endemic of Siberia. Information about the species composition and structure of tugun parasite community on the stage of spawning migration is described in this paper. We carried out ichtioparasitologic studies in the Yenisey and the Khatanga Rivers in 2011-2014. Tugun parasite complex from the Khatanga River remains statistically identical in species composition, number of individuals and biomass and differs from those of the Yeniseis tugun over the entire study period. Apparently two different stocks of tugun were investigated in the Yenisei River. One of them lives in the Yeniseis streambed, the other one lives in the Podkamennaya Tunguska River. The composition of the parasitic fauna of tugun from two rivers is formed by generalist species. Tugun parasites component communities from all material collection stations have high values of the Shannon index and two dominant species (by numbers of parasites and by biomass). We found out that the species biomasses differ significantly on the graphic community structure. The description of tugun parasite communities corresponds to characteristic of a climax community on the stage of destruction except the graphic structure. In the analyzed parasitic communities the processes of egg laying and larval appearance, the death of parasites of previous year generation and infection with this year parasites occur simultaneously. The stages of formation and destruction of the community overlap. The described state of tugun parasites communities has an adaptive value. The load on the host body is reduced which ensures the long-term existence of parasites.

Understanding the Long-Term Weed Community Dynamics in Organic and Conventional Crop Rotations Using the Principal Response Curve Method

Weed Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilshan Benaragama ◽  
Julia L. Leeson ◽  
Steve J. Shirtliffe
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
High Input ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
No Till ◽  
Principal Response Curve ◽  
Predominant Factor ◽  
Conventional Systems

AbstractWeeds have acquired evolutionary adaptations to the diverse crop and weed management strategies used in cropping systems. Therefore, changes in crop production practices such as conventional to organic systems, tillage-based to no-till systems, and diversity in crop rotations can result in differences in weed community composition that have management implications. A study was carried out to understand the weed community dynamics in a long-term alternative cropping systems study at Scott, SK, Canada. Long-term (18-yr) weed community composition data in wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) in ORG (organic), RED (reduced-input, no-till), and HIGH (high-input, conventional tillage) systems with three levels of crop rotation diversity, LOW (low diversity), DAG (diversified annual grains), and DAP (diversified annuals and perennials), were used to study the effect of different cropping systems and the effect of environment (random temporal effects) on residual weed community composition using the principal response curve (PRC) technique. The interaction between cropping systems and year-to-year random environmental changes was found to be the predominant factor causing fluctuations in weed community composition. Furthermore, the single most predominant factor influencing the weed composition was year-to-year random changes. Organic systems clearly differed from the two conventional systems in most years and had more diverse weed communities compared with the two conventional systems. The two conventional systems exhibited similar weed composition in most years. In this study, the use of the PRC method allowed capture of the real temporal dynamics reflected in the cropping systems by time interaction. This study further concludes that moving from a tillage-based, high-input conventional system to a no-till, reduced-input system did not cause significant changes in the weed community composition throughout the time period, but diversity in organic systems was high, probably due to increased occurrence of some difficult to control species.

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