Parasite predators exhibit a rapid numerical response to increased parasite abundance and reduce transmission to hosts

Ecology and Evolution
Skylar R HopkinsJeremy M Wojdak

Abstract

Predators of parasites have recently gained attention as important parts of food webs and ecosystems. In aquatic systems, many taxa consume free-living stages of parasites, and can thus reduce parasite transmission to hosts. However, the importance of the functional and numerical responses of parasite predators to disease dynamics is not well understood. We collected host-parasite-predator cooccurrence data from the field, and then experimentally manipulated predator abundance, parasite abundance, and the presence of alternative prey to determine the consequences for parasite transmission. The parasite predator of interest was a ubiquitous symbiotic oligochaete of mollusks, Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei, which inhabits host shells and consumes larval trematode parasites. Predators exhibited a rapid numerical response, where predator populations increased or decreased by as much as 60% in just 5 days, depending on the parasite:predator ratio. Furthermore, snail infection decreased substantially with increasing parasite predator densities, where the highest predator densities reduced infection by up to 89%. Predators of parasites can play an important role in regulating parasite transmission, even when infection risk is high, and ...Continue Reading

References

May 10, 2000·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·R S Ostfeld, F Keesing
Jul 8, 2000·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·P A Abrams, L R Ginzburg
Jul 18, 2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Kevin D LaffertyArmand M Kuris
Dec 25, 2007·Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift·Wolfgang Hilbe
Jan 1, 2008·The Journal of Parasitology·Anna M SchotthoeferVal R Beasley
May 8, 2008·Ecology·Louie H YangAmber N Wright
May 9, 2008·Ecology Letters·Kevin D LaffertyDavid W Thieltges
Jun 20, 2008·Parasitology·D W ThieltgesK T Jensen
Sep 4, 2008·The Journal of Parasitology·Amber T KaplanA M Kuris
Jun 11, 2009·Parasitology Research·Lisa K BeldenJeremy M Wojdak
Jan 13, 2010·Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·Jillian T DetwilerDennis J Minchella
Feb 27, 2010·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Pieter T J JohnsonDavid W Thieltges
Mar 2, 2010·The Journal of Experimental Biology·P T J Johnson, D W Thieltges
Jun 15, 2012·The Journal of Parasitology·Jillian T DetwilerLisa K Belden
Jan 12, 2013·Trends in Parasitology·Miroslava SoldánováBernd Sures
Mar 16, 2013·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Daniel L PrestonPieter T J Johnson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 5, 2016·Trends in Parasitology·Skylar R HopkinsLisa K Belden
Jan 9, 2015·Clinical Microbiology Reviews·Petr HorákSara Vanessa Brant
Jun 18, 2018·Oecologia·Skylar R HopkinsJeremy M Wojdak
Nov 12, 2017·Trends in Parasitology·Susanne H SokolowGiulio A De Leo
Aug 19, 2021·Oecologia·Travis McDevitt-GallesPieter T J Johnson
Sep 21, 2021·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Brendan K HobartPieter T J Johnson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCR

Software Mentioned

R
R Development Core Team
stats

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.