Recolonizing gray wolves increase parasite infection risk in their prey

Ecology and Evolution
Ines LesniakOliver Krone

Abstract

The recent recolonization of Central Europe by the European gray wolf (Canis lupus) provides an opportunity to study the dynamics of parasite transmission for cases when a definitive host returns after a phase of local extinction. We investigated whether a newly established wolf population increased the prevalence of those parasites in ungulate intermediate hosts representing wolf prey, whether some parasite species are particularly well adapted to wolves, and the potential basis for such adaptations. We recorded Sarcocystis species richness in wolves and Sarcocystis prevalence in ungulates harvested in study sites with and without permanent wolf presence in Germany using microscopy and DNA metabarcoding. Sarcocystis prevalence in red deer (Cervus elaphus) was significantly higher in wolf areas (79.7%) than in control areas (26.3%) but not in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (97.2% vs. 90.4%) or wild boar (Sus scrofa) (82.8% vs. 64.9%). Of 11 Sarcocystis species, Sarcocystis taeniata and Sarcocystis grueneri occurred more often in wolves than expected from the Sarcocystis infection patterns of ungulate prey. Both Sarcocystis species showed a higher increase in prevalence in ungulates in wolf areas than other Sarcocystis species, ...Continue Reading

Associated Datasets

References

Sep 21, 1979·Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Containing Papers of a Biological Character·R Dawkins, J R Krebs
Oct 5, 1990·Journal of Molecular Biology·S F AltschulD J Lipman
May 18, 1999·The Veterinary Journal·R J BuggR C Thompson
Aug 21, 2003·Parasitology Research·D Barutzki, R Schaper
Oct 31, 2006·The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice·J P Dubey, David S Lindsay
May 16, 2008·Biometrical Journal. Biometrische Zeitschrift·Torsten HothornPeter Westfall
Apr 2, 2009·Parasitology International·Zheng XiangZhaoqing Yang
Sep 11, 2009·Ecology·D W KellyD M Tompkins
Aug 17, 2010·Bioinformatics·Robert C Edgar
Jan 29, 2011·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·Astrid V StronenPaul C Paquet
Jul 19, 2011·Science·James A EstesDavid A Wardle
Jan 1, 2009·Language Learning and Development : the Official Journal of the Society for Language Development·Daniel J WeissAaron D Mitchel
Apr 25, 2014·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·Casper Sahl Poulsen, Christen Rune Stensvold
Dec 3, 2014·Veterinary Parasitology·Fabrizia VeronesiEzio Ferroglio
Dec 20, 2014·Science·Guillaume ChapronLuigi Boitani
Feb 3, 2015·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Maxwell J FarrellT Jonathan Davies
Sep 1, 2015·Veterinary Parasitology·Catarina CoelhoMadalena Vieira-Pinto
Jan 19, 2016·Parasitology Research·Elizabeth Chang ReissigFrancisco A Uzal
Mar 15, 2016·Frontiers in Microbiology·Bruno M Di Genova, Renata R Tonelli
Nov 24, 2016·Journal of Parasitic Diseases : Official Organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology·Raafat Mohamed Shaapan
Dec 30, 2016·Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM·Guido RocchigianiFrancesca Mancianti
Feb 14, 2017·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·Michelle CarstensenAndrew J Edwards
Sep 28, 2017·International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife·Ines LesniakOliver Krone

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
light microscopy
PCR
amplicon sequencing

Software Mentioned

BLAST
R
R Development Core Team
USEARCH
R package lmtest
R package car
R package multcomp

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.