scholarly journals Estimating parasite host range

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1861) ◽  
pp. 20171250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tad Dallas ◽  
Shan Huang ◽  
Charles Nunn ◽  
Andrew W. Park ◽  
John M. Drake
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Disease Ecology ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Estimation Accuracy ◽  
Long Term Ecological Research ◽  
Host Parasite

Estimating the number of host species that a parasite can infect (i.e. host range) provides key insights into the evolution of host specialism and is a central concept in disease ecology. Host range is rarely estimated in real systems, however, because variation in species relative abundance and the detection of rare species makes it challenging to confidently estimate host range. We applied a non-parametric richness indicator to estimate host range in simulated and empirical data, allowing us to assess the influence of sampling heterogeneity and data completeness. After validating our method on simulated data, we estimated parasite host range for a sparsely sampled global parasite occurrence database (Global Mammal Parasite Database) and a repeatedly sampled set of parasites of small mammals from New Mexico (Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research Program). Estimation accuracy varied strongly with parasite taxonomy, number of parasite occurrence records, and the shape of host species-abundance distribution (i.e. the dominance and rareness of species in the host community). Our findings suggest that between 20% and 40% of parasite host ranges are currently unknown, highlighting a major gap in our understanding of parasite specificity, host–parasite network structure, and parasite burdens.

scholarly journals Vector-borne parasite invasion in communities across space and time

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1917) ◽  
pp. 20192614
Author(s):  
John E. Vinson ◽  
Andrew W. Park
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Community Size ◽  
Parasite Invasion ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
Invasion Potential ◽  
Novel Host ◽  
Vector Borne

While vector-borne parasite transmission often operates via generalist-feeding vectors facilitating cross-species transmission in host communities, theory describing the relationship between host species diversity and parasite invasion in these systems is underdeveloped. Host community composition and abundance vary across space and time, generating opportunities for parasite invasion. To explore how host community variation can modify parasite invasion potential, we develop a model for vector-borne parasite transmission dynamics that includes a host community of arbitrary richness and species' abundance. To compare invasion potential across communities, we calculate the community basic reproductive ratio of the parasite. We compare communities comprising a set of host species to their subsets, which allows for flexible scenario building including the introduction of novel host species and species loss. We allow vector abundance to scale with, or be independent of, community size, capturing regulation by feeding opportunities and non-host effects such as limited oviposition sites. Motivated by equivocal data relating host species competency to abundance, we characterize plausible host communities via phenomenological relationships between host species abundance and competency. We identify an underappreciated mechanism whereby changes to communities simultaneously alter average competency and the vector to host ratio and demonstrate that the interaction can profoundly influence invasion potential.

scholarly journals Low Host Specialization in the Cuckoo Wasp, Parnopes grandior, Weakens Chemical Mimicry but Does Not Lead to Local Adaption

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Carlo Polidori ◽  
Yolanda Ballesteros ◽  
Mareike Wurdack ◽  
Josep Daniel Asís ◽  
José Tormos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Local Adaptation ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Chemical Mimicry ◽  
Host Specialization ◽  
Wasp Species ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Host Parasite

Insect brood parasites have evolved a variety of strategies to avoid being detected by their hosts. Few previous studies on cuckoo wasps (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae), which are natural enemies of solitary wasps and bees, have shown that chemical mimicry, i.e., the biosynthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) that match the host profile, evolved in several species. However, mimicry was not detected in all investigated host-parasite pairs. The effect of host range as a second factor that may play a role in evolution of mimicry has been neglected, since all previous studies were carried out on host specialists and at nesting sites where only one host species occurred. Here we studied the cuckoo wasp Parnopes grandior, which attacks many digger wasp species of the genus Bembix (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Given its weak host specialization, P. grandior may either locally adapt by increasing mimicry precision to only one of the sympatric hosts or it may evolve chemical insignificance by reducing the CHC profile complexity and/or CHCs amounts. At a study site harbouring three host species, we found evidence for a weak but appreciable chemical deception strategy in P. grandior. Indeed, the CHC profile of P. grandior was more similar to all sympatric Bembix species than to a non-host wasp species belonging to the same tribe as Bembix. Furthermore, P. grandior CHC profile was equally distant to all the hosts’ CHC profiles, thus not pointing towards local adaptation of the CHC profile to one of the hosts’ profile. We conducted behavioural assays suggesting that such weak mimicry is sufficient to reduce host aggression, even in absence of an insignificance strategy, which was not detected. Hence, we finally concluded that host range may indeed play a role in shaping the level of chemical mimicry in cuckoo wasps.

scholarly journals Defining host range: host–parasite compatibility during the non-infective phase of the parasite also matters

Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Veiga ◽  
Paloma De Oña ◽  
Beatriz Salazar ◽  
Francisco Valera
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Avian Host ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Carnus Hemapterus ◽  
Pseudolynchia Canariensis ◽  
European Roller ◽  
Host Parasite

AbstractHost range and parasite specificity determine key epidemiological, ecological and evolutionary aspects of host–parasite interactions. Parasites are usually classified as generalists or specialists based on the number of hosts they feed on. Yet, the requirements of the various stages of a parasite may influence the suitability of a given host species. Here, we investigate the generalist nature of three common ectoparasites (the dipteran Carnus hemapterus and two species of louse flies, Pseudolynchia canariensis and Ornithophila metallica), exploiting two avian host species (the European roller Coracias garrulus and the Rock pigeon Columba livia), that frequently occupy the same breeding sites. We explore the prevalence and abundance of both the infective and the puparial stages of the ectoparasites in both host species. Strong preferences of Pseudolynchia canariensis for pigeons and of Carnus hemapterus for rollers were found. Moderate prevalence of Ornithophila metallica was found in rollers but this louse fly avoided pigeons. In some cases, the infestation patterns observed for imagoes and puparia were consistent whereas in other cases host preferences inferred from imagoes differed from the ones suggested by puparia. We propose that the adult stages of these ectoparasites are more specialist than reported and that the requirements of non-infective stages can restrict the effective host range of some parasites.

scholarly journals Feeding Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs): actual and potential contributions from LTER-Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 477-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Zilioli ◽  
Alessandro Oggioni ◽  
Paolo Tagliolato ◽  
Alessandra Pugnetti ◽  
Paola Carrara
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Ecological Research ◽  
Biodiversity Monitoring ◽  
Long Term Ecological Research ◽  
Essential Biodiversity Variables ◽  
Biodiversity Change ◽  
Metadata Repository ◽  
Research Organisations

The conceptual framework of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) aims to capture the major dimensions of biodiversity change by structuring biodiversity monitoring and by ruling data collection amongst different providers. Amongst the research infrastructures adopting and implementing the EBV framework, LTER-Europe - the European node of ILTER (International Long-Term Ecological Research) - follows the approach to compare site-based biodiversity observations within and across its networks. However, a synoptic overview of their contributions with EBVs-relevant data is still missing, since data are not made available for several reasons. In this paper, we assess the capacity of LTER-Italy, one of the richest and heterogeneous networks of LTER sites in Europe, to provide data to “Species Distribution” and “Species Abundance” EBVs without inspecting and downloading their contents. To this aim, we mine the EBVs information which is publicly structured and shared by LTER site managers through DEIMS-SDR, the LTER-Europe online metadata repository. We classify the sites according to two types of contributions: (i) the actual contribution, based on metadata of datasets and (ii) the potential contribution, based on metadata of sites. Through these assessments, we investigate if LTER-Italy monitoring activities can provide EBVs measures and which sites currently provide datasets. By comparing the two contributions, we pinpoint the factors hampering the accessibility of LTER-Italy data and suggest solutions to increase the discoverability and reusability of LTER-Italy EBVs measurements. The research provides the first overview of EBVs monitored in LTER-Italy and the corresponding data management practices, as well as an evaluation of the interoperability of this network with respect to other research organisations for legal and technical aspects.

Parasites shape community structure and dynamics in freshwater crustaceans

Parasitology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-193
Author(s):  
Olwyn C. Friesen ◽  
Sarah Goellner ◽  
Robert Poulin ◽  
Clément Lagrue
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Crustacean Species ◽  
Freshwater Crustacean ◽  
Set Up ◽  
High Parasite ◽  
Parasite Exposure ◽  
Paracalliope Fluviatilis

AbstractParasites directly and indirectly influence the important interactions among hosts such as competition and predation through modifications of behaviour, reproduction and survival. Such impacts can affect local biodiversity, relative abundance of host species and structuring of communities and ecosystems. Despite having a firm theoretical basis for the potential effects of parasites on ecosystems, there is a scarcity of experimental data to validate these hypotheses, making our inferences about this topic more circumstantial. To quantitatively test parasites' role in structuring host communities, we set up a controlled, multigenerational mesocosm experiment involving four sympatric freshwater crustacean species that share up to four parasite species. Mesocosms were assigned to either of two different treatments, low or high parasite exposure. We found that the trematode Maritrema poulini differentially influenced the population dynamics of these hosts. For example, survival and recruitment of the amphipod Paracalliope fluviatilis were dramatically reduced compared to other host species, suggesting that parasites may affect their long-term persistence in the community. Relative abundances of crustacean species were influenced by parasites, demonstrating their role in host community structure. As parasites are ubiquitous across all communities and ecosystems, we suggest that the asymmetrical effects we observed are likely widespread structuring forces.

The coevolutionary potential of a ‘generalist’ parasite, the hen flea Ceratophyllus gallinae

Parasitology ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. TRIPET ◽  
H. RICHNER
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Narrow Host Range ◽  
Parasite Infestation ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Ceratophyllus Gallinae

Hosts exert selection pressures on their parasites and it is often assumed that host–parasite coevolution with each host is less intense in a generalist parasite than for a parasite with a narrow host range. Selection pressure on the parasite, however, is rather determined by host specificity, i.e. the relative importance of each host, than simply by the range of hosts. The determination of host specificity requires an assessment of the prevalence and intensity of parasite infestation within each host's nests, as well as the local abundance of each host species. Since the hen flea, Ceratophyllus gallinae, is a rather generalist parasite of birds it could be concluded that there has been weak coevolution with each of its hosts. By reviewing the literature on the prevalence and intensity of hen flea infestations in bird nests we estimated the number of individuals produced in the nest of each host species. The comparative analysis shows (1) that the prevalence of infestation is highest in hole-nesting avian families, (2) that prevalence and intensity of infestation among bird families are highly correlated, and (3) that hole-nesting Paridae have the highest intensities of infestation and harbour the majority of the flea population. These results underline the fleas' potential for coevolution with Paridae despite their extensive host range.

scholarly journals Long-term prevalence data reveals spillover dynamics in a multi-host (Artemia), multi-parasite (Microsporidia) community

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva J.P. Lievens ◽  
Nicolas O. Rode ◽  
Julie Landes ◽  
Adeline Segard ◽  
Roula Jabbour-Zahab ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Community Context ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Prevalence Data ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Parasite Dynamics

AbstractIn the study of multi-host parasites, it is often found that host species contribute asymmetrically to parasite transmission, with cascading effects on parasite dynamics and overall community structure. Yet, identifying which of the host species contribute to parasite transmission and maintenance is a recurring challenge. Here, we approach this issue by taking advantage of natural variation in the community composition of host species. We studied the horizontally transmitted microsporidians Anostracospora rigaudi and Enterocytospora artemiae in a Southern French metacommunity of their brine shrimp hosts, Artemia franciscana and Artemia parthenogenetica. Within the metacommunity, patches can contain either or both of the Artemia host species, so that long-term prevalence data can provide a direct link between the presence of the two host species and the persistence of the two parasites. First, we show that the microsporidian A. rigaudi is a spillover parasite: it was unable to persist in the absence of its maintenance host A. parthenogenetica. This result was particularly striking in light of A. rigaudi’s high prevalence (in the field) and high infectivity (when tested in the lab) in both hosts. Moreover, A. parthenogenetica’s seasonal presence imposed seasonality on the rate of spillover, causing cyclical pseudo-endemics in the spillover host A. franciscana. Second, while our prevalence data was sufficient to identify E. artemiae as either a spillover or a facultative multi-host parasite, we could not distinguish between the two possibilities. This study supports the importance of studying the community context of multi-host parasites, and demonstrates that in appropriate multi-host systems, sampling across a range of conditions and host communities can lead to clear conclusions about the drivers of parasite persistence.

scholarly journals Host-parasite interaction explains variation in prevalence of avian haemosporidians at the community level

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Garcia-Longoria ◽  
A. Marzal ◽  
F. de Lope ◽  
L. Z. Garamszegi
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Dual Nature ◽  
Host Parasite Interactions ◽  
Avian Haemosporidians ◽  
Host Parasite

ABSTRACTParasites are a selective force that shape host community structure and dynamics, but host communities can also influence parasitism. Understanding the dual nature from host-parasite interactions can be facilitated by quantifying the variation in parasite prevalence (i.e. the proportion of infected host individuals in a population) among host species and then comparing that variation to other ecological factors that are known to also shape host communities. Avian haemosporidian parasites (e.g. Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) are abundant and widespread representing an excellent model for the study of host-parasite interactions. Several geographic and environmental factors have been suggested to determine prevalence of avian haemosporidians in bird communities. However, much remains to be known regarding whether host and parasite traits, represented by phylogenetic distances among species and degree of specialization in host-parasite relationships, can influence parasite prevalence. The aims of this study were to analyze factors affecting prevalence in a bird community and to test whether the degree of parasite specialization on their hosts is determined by host traits. Our statistical analyses suggest that prevalence is mainly determined by the interaction between host species and parasite lineages where tolerance and/or susceptibility to parasites plays an essential role. Additionally, we found that although some of the parasite lineages infected a low number of bird species, the species they infected were distantly related and therefore the parasites themselves should not be considered typical host specialists. Prevalence was higher for generalist than for specialist parasites in some, but not all, host species. These results suggest that prevalence mainly results from the interaction between host immune defences and parasite exploitation strategies wherein the result of an association between particular parasite lineages and particular host species is idiosyncratic.

scholarly journals Spores and soil from six sides: interdisciplinarity and the environmental biology of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin J. Carlson ◽  
Wayne M. Getz ◽  
Kyrre L. Kausrud ◽  
Carrie A. Cizauskas ◽  
Jason K. Blackburn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Disease Ecology ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Environmental Biology ◽  
Environmental Persistence ◽  
Long Term Ecological Research ◽  
Anthrax Spores

AbstractEnvironmentally Transmitted Diseases Are Comparatively Poorly Understood And Managed, And Their Ecology Is Particularly Understudied. Here We Identify Challenges Of Studying Environmental Transmission And Persistence With A Six-Sided Interdisciplinary Review Of The Biology Of Anthrax (Bacillus Anthracis). Anthrax Is A Zoonotic Disease Capable Of Maintaining Infectious Spore Banks In Soil For Decades (Or Even Potentially Centuries), And The Mechanisms Of Its Environmental Persistence Have Been The Topic Of Significant Research And Controversy. Where Anthrax Is Endemic, It Plays An Important Ecological Role, Shaping The Dynamics Of Entire Herbivore Communities. The Complex Eco-Epidemiology Of Anthrax, And The Mysterious Biology OfBacillus AnthracisDuring Its Environmental Stage, Have Necessitated An Interdisciplinary Approach To Pathogen Research. Here, We Illustrate Different Disciplinary Perspectives Through Key Advances Made By Researchers Working In Etosha National Park, A Long-Term Ecological Research Site In Namibia That Has Exemplified The Complexities Of Anthrax’S Enzootic Process Over Decades Of Surveillance. In Etosha, The Role Of Scavengers And Alternate Routes (Waterborne Transmission And Flies) Has Proved Unimportant, Relative To The Long-Term Persistence Of Anthrax Spores In Soil And Their Infection Of Herbivore Hosts. Carcass Deposition Facilitates Green-Ups Of Vegetation To Attract Herbivores, Potentially Facilitated By Anthrax Spores’ Role In The Rhizosphere. The Underlying Seasonal Pattern Of Vegetation, And Herbivores’ Immune And Behavioral Responses To Anthrax Risk, Interact To Produce Regular “Anthrax Seasons” That Appear To Be A Stable Feature Of The Etosha Ecosystem. Through The Lens Of Microbiologists, Geneticists, Immunologists, Ecologists, Epidemiologists, And Clinicians, We Discuss How Anthrax Dynamics Are Shaped At The Smallest Scale By Population Genetics And Interactions Within The Bacterial Communities Up To The Broadest Scales Of Ecosystem Structure. We Illustrate The Benefits And Challenges Of This Interdisciplinary Approach To Disease Ecology, And Suggest Ways Anthrax Might Offer Insights Into The Biology Of Other Important Pathogens.Bacillus Anthracis,And The More Recently EmergedBacillus CereusBiovarAnthracis, Share Key Features With Other Environmentally-Transmitted Pathogens, Including Several Zoonoses And Panzootics Of Special Interest For Global Health And Conservation Efforts. Understanding The Dynamics Of Anthrax, And Developing Interdisciplinary Research Programs That Explore Environmental Persistence, Is A Critical Step Forward For Understanding These Emerging Threats.

Host-parasite associations and host-specificity in haemoparasites of reed bed passerines

Parasitology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
RITA VENTIM ◽  
JOANA MORAIS ◽  
SARA PARDAL ◽  
LUÍSA MENDES ◽  
JAIME A. RAMOS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Reed Beds ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Reed Bed ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Local Transmission

SUMMARYThe host specificity and host sharing of avian haemoparasites (genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) is still poorly known, although they infect a large proportion of several studied bird populations. This study used molecular techniques to detect haemoparasites in marsh warblers and in other passerines that feed in reed beds, at 4 sites in Portugal. The host-specificity of the parasite lineages was analysed and compared with other cases described in the literature to assess whether apparent host specificity changes according to the studied system. Nine lineages of Haemoproteus and 15 of Plasmodium were found, of which only 10 Plasmodium were proven to have local transmission. Each lineage was confined to a distinct set of host species. The distribution of parasites in the host species was non-nested, meaning that specialist lineages did not always share hosts with generalists. The most prevalent lineages were those with a wider host range, indicating that the ability to infect more hosts will enhance a parasite's prevalence in its entire host range. We also found that in our areas, a specialist parasite (H. MW1) appears to have a more generalist character than described in the literature, suggesting that a parasite's apparent specialization can depend on the type of host species sampled.

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