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Trypanosomes, fleas and field voles: ecological dynamics of a host-vector–parasite interaction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2005

A. SMITH ,
S. TELFER ,
S. BURTHE ,
M. BENNETT  and
M. BEGON
A. SMITH
Affiliation:
Population Biology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
S. TELFER
Affiliation:
Population Biology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston CH64 7TE, UK
S. BURTHE
Affiliation:
Population Biology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
M. BENNETT
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston CH64 7TE, UK
M. BEGON
Affiliation:
Population Biology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
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Abstract

To investigate the prevalence of a flea-borne protozoan (Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) microti) in its field vole (Microtus agrestis) host, we monitored over a 2-year period a range of intrinsic and extrinsic parameters pertaining to host demographics, infection status and vector (flea) prevalence. Generalized Linear Mixed Modelling was used to analyse patterns of both flea and trypanosome occurrence. Overall, males of all sizes and ages were more likely to be infested with fleas than their female counterparts. Flea prevalence also showed direct density dependence during the winter, but patterns of density dependence varied amongst body mass (age) classes during the summer. Trypanosome prevalence did not vary between the sexes but was positively related to past flea prevalence with a lag of 3 months, with the highest levels occurring during the autumn season. A convex age-prevalence distribution was observed, suggesting that individuals develop a degree of immunity to trypanosome infection with age and exposure. An interaction between age and whether the individual was new or recaptured suggested that infected animals are less likely to become territory holders than their uninfected counterparts.

Keywords

Trypanosoma microtiMicrotus agrestisfield volevector borneSiphonapteraacquired immunitynatural populationsex-biasKielder Forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 131 , Issue 3 , September 2005 , pp. 355 - 365
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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