Display options
Cite
Lutermann H, Fagir DM, Bennett NC. Complex interactions within the ectoparasite community of the eastern rock sengi (Elephantulus myurus). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. 2015;4(1):148-58doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.02.001.
Lutermann, H., Fagir, D. M., & Bennett, N. C. (2015). Complex interactions within the ectoparasite community of the eastern rock sengi (Elephantulus myurus). International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife, 4(1), 148-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.02.001
Lutermann, Heike, et al. "Complex interactions within the ectoparasite community of the eastern rock sengi (Elephantulus myurus)." International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife vol. 4,1 (2015): 148-58. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.02.001
Lutermann H, Fagir DM, Bennett NC. Complex interactions within the ectoparasite community of the eastern rock sengi (Elephantulus myurus). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. 2015 Feb 17;4(1):148-58. doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.02.001. eCollection 2015 Apr. PMID: 25830115; PMCID: PMC4356872.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. 2015 Feb 17;4(1):148-58. doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.02.001. eCollection 2015 Apr.

Complex interactions within the ectoparasite community of the eastern rock sengi (Elephantulus myurus).

International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife

Heike Lutermann, Dina M Fagir, Nigel C Bennett

Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa.

PMID: 25830115 PMCID: PMC4356872 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.02.001

Abstract

Concomitant infection with more than one parasite species is the rule in nature. Since co-infecting parasites are exploiting the same host, interspecific interactions at the infracommunity level are likely. The nature of such interactions can be expected to affect the distribution of parasites within host populations. Intraspecific interactions within the infracommunity are not easily discernible from cross-sectional studies and the focus of most of these studies lies on relationships between endoparasitic micro- and macroparasites. In the current study of the ectoparasite community of wild eastern rock sengis (Elephantulus myurus) we experimentally reduced tick and flea infestations and monitored ectoparasite burdens over the course of three years. We found a number of within-taxon facilitating interactions between tick species that might be the result of decreasing immune responses with increasing tick burden. In contrast, inter-taxon relationships appeared to be dominated by antagonistic relationships likely to be linked to competition over feeding sites. Only one of the observed interspecific interactions was reciprocal. Our experimental manipulation revealed additional antagonistic relationships that cross-sectional studies would not have captured. In addition, we found substantial long-term changes in the sengi ectoparasite community as a result of our experimental manipulation suggesting carry-over effects of our treatment. This study is the first that evaluates interspecific interactions within the entire ectoparasite community exploiting a mammalian host in Africa and highlights the complexity of interspecific interactions within an ectoparasite community.

Keywords: Co-infection; Community ecology; Interspecific interaction; Rhipicephalus; Trombiculidae

References

  1. J Parasitol. 2001 Feb;87(1):49-54 - PubMed
  2. Parasitology. 2001;122 Suppl:S23-38 - PubMed
  3. Parasitology. 2001;122 Suppl:S39-49 - PubMed
  4. Proc Biol Sci. 2002 Apr 22;269(1493):867-72 - PubMed
  5. Science. 2002 Sep 20;297(5589):2015-8 - PubMed
  6. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 2002 Sep;69(3):177-87 - PubMed
  7. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 2003 Sep;70(3):251-3 - PubMed
  8. Nature. 2004 Apr 22;428(6985):840-4 - PubMed
  9. Parasite Immunol. 2004 Jun-Jul;26(6-7):247-64 - PubMed
  10. Parasitology. 2004;129 Suppl:S161-76 - PubMed
  11. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 2005 Dec;72(4):293-301 - PubMed
  12. Ecol Lett. 2006 Apr;9(4):467-84 - PubMed
  13. Trends Ecol Evol. 2007 Mar;22(3):133-9 - PubMed
  14. Int J Parasitol. 2008 Mar;38(3-4):371-80 - PubMed
  15. J Anim Ecol. 2008 Mar;77(2):370-7 - PubMed
  16. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jan 15;105(2):566-70 - PubMed
  17. Vet Ther. 2008 Spring;9(1):15-25 - PubMed
  18. Ecology. 2008 Aug;89(8):2239-50 - PubMed
  19. Ecol Lett. 2010 May;13(5):606-15 - PubMed
  20. J Anim Ecol. 2011 Jan;80(1):19-38 - PubMed
  21. Am Nat. 2010 Nov;176(5):613-24 - PubMed
  22. Science. 2010 Oct 8;330(6001):243-6 - PubMed
  23. J Parasitol. 2011 Dec;97(6):1012-6 - PubMed
  24. Naturwissenschaften. 2012 Feb;99(2):103-10 - PubMed
  25. Med Vet Entomol. 2012 Sep;26(3):255-62 - PubMed
  26. Vet Parasitol. 2012 Sep 10;188(3-4):346-54 - PubMed
  27. Exp Appl Acarol. 2012 Nov;58(3):301-14 - PubMed
  28. J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol. 2012 Aug;317(7):447-54 - PubMed
  29. Vet Parasitol. 2013 Mar 31;193(1-3):245-51 - PubMed
  30. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 2012 Feb 02;79(1):E1-2 - PubMed
  31. Adv Parasitol. 2013;82:321-69 - PubMed
  32. Biol Lett. 2013 May 08;9(4):20130205 - PubMed
  33. Proc Biol Sci. 2013 May 15;280(1762):20130598 - PubMed
  34. Parasitol Res. 2013 Sep;112(9):3295-304 - PubMed
  35. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. 2012 Nov 22;2:1-9 - PubMed
  36. Int J Parasitol. 2014 Jun;44(7):437-45 - PubMed
  37. Parasit Vectors. 2014 Aug 15;7:366 - PubMed
  38. Oecologia. 1982 Oct;55(1):77-80 - PubMed
  39. Oecologia. 1981 Jan;51(2):227-232 - PubMed
  40. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 1994 Jun;61(2):143-7 - PubMed
  41. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Jan 7;94(1):338-42 - PubMed
  42. J Parasitol. 1997 Aug;83(4):575-83 - PubMed
  43. Int J Parasitol. 1998 Mar;28(3):377-93 - PubMed
  44. Science. 1998 Dec 18;282(5397):2256-8 - PubMed

Publication Types