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Structure in parasite component communities in wild rodents: predictability, stability, associations and interactions .... or pure randomness?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2008

J. M. BEHNKE
J. M. BEHNKE*
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG2 7TR, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Tel: +44 (0)115 951 3208. Fax: +44(0)115 951 3251. E-mail: [email protected]
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Summary

Experimental data establish that interactions exist between species of intestinal helminths during concurrent infections in rodents, the strongest effects being mediated through the host's immune responses. Detecting immune-mediated relationships in wild rodent populations has been fraught with problems and published data do not support a major role for interactions in structuring helminth communities. Helminths in wild rodents show predictable patterns of seasonal, host age-dependent and spatial variation in species richness and in abundance of core species. When these are controlled for, patterns of co-infection compatible with synergistic interactions can be demonstrated. At least one of these, the positive relationship between Heligmosomoides polygyrus and species richness of other helminths has been demonstrated in three totally independent data-sets. Collectively, they explain only a small percentage of the variance/deviance in abundance data and at this level are unlikely to play a major role in structuring helminth communities, although they may be important in the more heavily infected wood mice. Current worm burdens underestimate the possibility that earlier interactions through the immune system have taken place, and therefore interactions may have a greater role to play than is immediately evident from current worm burdens. Longitudinal studies are proposed to resolve this issue.

Keywords

rodentsbank voleswood micehelminthsnematodesinteractionsassociationsco-infectionsimmunity
Type
Original Articles
Information
Parasitology , Volume 135 , Special Issue 7: Parasitic co-infections: challenges and solutions , June 2008 , pp. 751 - 766
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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