Temporal variation in parasite infestation of a host individual: does a parasite-free host remain uninfested permanently?

Parasitology Research
Boris R KrasnovA Allan Degen

Abstract

Host individuals not infested by parasites at a given time are either permanently free from parasites or could be infested at other times. We studied temporal variation in the presence or absence of fleas (Siphonaptera) on individual rodents of two species (Gerbillus dasyurus and Acomys cahirinus) and questioned if and how an individual rodent can change its infestation status temporally. Change in infestation status by fleas over time was found in 45.5% of G. dasyurus and 35.9% of A. cahirinus. In both host species, the proportion of individuals that either changed or did not change their infestation status did not differ from the null expectation of 1:1. No difference between the proportions of infested at two consecutive captures and uninfested at two consecutive captures animals was found in A. cahirinus, whereas the proportion of G. dasyurus infested by fleas at two consecutive captures was significantly greater than that of uninfested at two consecutive captures individuals. In both host species, similar proportions of individuals changed their infestation status either from being infested to being uninfested or vice versa. Among individuals of both species that were initially infested by fleas, similar proportions change...Continue Reading

References

May 23, 2001·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·G D. Ruxton, S Humphries
Jul 5, 2001·Physiology & Behavior·A BartolomucciS Parmigiani
Sep 24, 2002·Medical and Veterinary Entomology·B R KrasnovI S Khokhlova
Aug 1, 1996·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·B C Sheldon, S Verhulst

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Citations

Feb 19, 2013·Parasitology Research·Evelyn C RynkiewiczKeith Clay
Mar 17, 2011·Oecologia·Boris R KrasnovSerge Morand
Nov 10, 2010·PloS One·Michael KamEli Geffen
Apr 22, 2008·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Hadas HawlenaBerry Pinshow
Oct 13, 2006·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Boris R KrasnovSerge Morand
Oct 1, 2017·International Journal for Parasitology·Loren Cassin Sackett
Nov 11, 2011·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Michael KamA Allan Degen

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