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Smith AT, Krasnov BR, Horak IG, Ueckermann EA, Matthee S. Ectoparasites associated with the Bushveld gerbil ( Gerbilliscus leucogaster) and the role of the host and habitat in shaping ectoparasite diversity and infestations. Parasitology 2023; 150:792-804. [PMID: 37272490 PMCID: PMC10478068 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Rodents are known hosts for various ectoparasite taxa such as fleas, lice, ticks and mites. South Africa is recognized for its animal diversity, yet little is published about the parasite diversity associated with wild rodent species. By focusing on a wildlife-human/domestic animal interface, the study aims to record ectoparasite diversity and levels of infestations of the Bushveld gerbil, Gerbilliscus leucogaster, and to establish the relationship between ectoparasite infestation parameters and host- and habitat factors. Rodents (n = 127) were trapped in 2 habitat types (natural and agricultural) during 2014–2020. More than 6500 individuals of 32 epifaunistic species represented by 21 genera and belonging to 5 taxonomic groups (fleas, sucking lice, ticks, mesostigmatan mites and trombiculid mites) were collected. Mesostigmatan mites and lice were the most abundant and fleas and mesostigmatan mites the most prevalent groups. Flea and mesostigmatan mite numbers and mesostigmatan mite species richness was significantly higher on reproductively active male than female rodents. Only ticks were significantly associated with habitat type, with significantly higher tick numbers and more tick species on rodents in the natural compared to the agricultural habitat. We conclude that the level of infestation by ectoparasites closely associated with the host (fleas and mites) was affected by host-associated factors, while infestation by ectoparasite that spend most of their life in the external environment (ticks) was affected by habitat type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber T. Smith
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Boris R. Krasnov
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Ivan G. Horak
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Makhanda 6140, South Africa
| | - Eddie A. Ueckermann
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, North-West, South Africa
| | - Sonja Matthee
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Grandón-Ojeda A, Moreno L, Garcés-Tapia C, Figueroa-Sandoval F, Beltrán-Venegas J, Serrano-Reyes J, Bustamante-Garrido B, Lobos-Chávez F, Espinoza-Rojas H, Silva-de la Fuente MC, Henríquez A, Landaeta-Aqueveque C. Patterns of Gastrointestinal Helminth Infections in Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, and Mus musculus in Chile. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:929208. [PMID: 35847649 PMCID: PMC9277659 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.929208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Few studies have assessed the patterns of parasite populations of rodents over a longitudinal gradient in Chile. In this work, the gastrointestinal helminthic fauna of invasive rodents in Chile was examined to assess the association between their presence/absence and abundance with latitude, host sex, and host body condition, and to assess the coexistence and correlation of the abundance between parasite species. Rodents were obtained from 20 localities between 33 and 43°S. Helminths were extracted from the gastrointestinal tract and identified morphologically. Overall, 13 helminth taxa were obtained. The most frequently identified parasite species was Heterakis spumosa, and the most abundant was Syphacia muris, while Physaloptera sp. was the most widely distributed. No locality presented with a coexistence that was different from that expected by chance, while the abundance of five helminthic species correlated with the abundance of another in at least one locality, most likely due to co-infection rather than interaction. Host sex was associated with parasite presence or abundance, and female sex-biased parasitism was notably observed in all cases. Body condition and latitude presented either a positive or negative association with the presence or abundance of parasites depending on the species. It is notable that the likely native Physaloptera sp. is widely distributed among invasive rodents. Further, gravid females were found, suggesting spillback of this species to the native fauna. The low frequency and abundance of highly zoonotic hymenolepid species suggest that rodents are of low concern regarding gastrointestinal zoonotic helminths.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucila Moreno
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Carolina Garcés-Tapia
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Fernanda Figueroa-Sandoval
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Jazmín Beltrán-Venegas
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Josselyn Serrano-Reyes
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Bárbara Bustamante-Garrido
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Felipe Lobos-Chávez
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Hellen Espinoza-Rojas
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | | | - AnaLía Henríquez
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción, Chile
| | - Carlos Landaeta-Aqueveque
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
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New taxonomic and evolutionary insights relevant to the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis: A geographic perspective. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 155:106990. [PMID: 33096232 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, is an obligate haematophagous ectoparasite of wildlife and domestic cats and dogs worldwide. Since cat fleas can affect the health of humans and their pets, an uncertain taxonomy of this taxon can greatly inhibit pest and disease management. To address the evolution and taxonomy of the cat flea, we set out to determine 1) how many genetically distinct taxa exist, 2) whether there is morphological support for the genetically distinct taxa, and 3) the role of host range and paleoclimatic events in speciation. We collected a total of 3352 fleas sampled from 576 domestic cats and dogs as well as 10 wildlife species across 30 localities in South Africa. A total of three flea genera, five species, and three of the currently recognized cat flea subspecies, C. f. damarensis, C. f. strongylus and C. f. felis were obtained. Geometric morphometric analyses on head shape were performed on 68 female and 107 male cat flea individuals. Principal component analysis demonstrated large overlap in head shape variation between C. f. strongylus and C. f. felis, rendering this character not useful for phylogenetic inferences. DNA was extracted from 188 Ctenocephalides spp. and mitochondrial COII and nuclear EF1-α sequences were generated. Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses as well as a TCS parsimony haplotype network of the mitochondrial DNA confirmed the presence of three well supported monophyletic clades. These assemblages did not fully corroborate the existence of the three C. felis subspecies. A single well-supported molecular clade included only C. f. damarensis morphotypes that were mostly collected from wildlife. The recognition of this subspecies as a distinct taxon was further corroborated by sequence distances and also the number of plantar spiniform bristles on fore-tarsi V in males. Despite the overall lack of support for the recognition of C. f. damarensis and C. f. strongylus, a geographic trend was visible whereby one genetic lineage corresponded to the western dryer hot subregion, whereas the other was found throughout the region. Bayesian dating suggested that these two clades diverged during the early Pliocene (4.18 mya), a date that corresponds well with the establishment of a dry hot climate in the west of southern Africa. If so, the off-host environment, particularly temperature and humidity, are important factors to consider in the evolution of the cat flea. The present study rejects recent assertions that the three cat flea subspecies are valid entities and rather point to a situation where more sampling is required before the taxonomic status of C. f. damarensis can be resolved.
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Guo F, Bonebrake TC, Gibson L. Land-Use Change Alters Host and Vector Communities and May Elevate Disease Risk. ECOHEALTH 2019; 16:647-658. [PMID: 29691680 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-018-1336-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Land-use change has transformed most of the planet. Concurrently, recent outbreaks of various emerging infectious diseases have raised great attention to the health consequences of anthropogenic environmental degradation. Here, we assessed the global impacts of habitat conversion and other land-use changes on community structures of infectious disease hosts and vectors, using a meta-analysis of 37 studies. From 331 pairwise comparisons of disease hosts/vectors in pristine (undisturbed) and disturbed areas, we found a decrease in species diversity but an increase in body size associated with land-use changes, potentially suggesting higher risk of infectious disease transmission in disturbed habitats. Neither host nor vector abundance, however, changed significantly following disturbance. When grouped by subcategories like disturbance type, taxonomic group, pathogen type and region, changes in host/vector community composition varied considerably. Fragmentation and agriculture in particular benefit host and vector communities and therefore might elevate disease risk. Our results indicate that while habitat disturbance could alter disease host/vector communities in ways that exacerbate pathogen prevalence, the relationship is highly context-dependent and influenced by multiple factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyi Guo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Luke Gibson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
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5
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Hatyoka L, Froeschke G, Kleynhans D, van der Mescht L, Heighton S, Matthee S, Bastos A. Bartonellae of Synanthropic Four-Striped Mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) from the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:242-248. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Luiza Hatyoka
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
| | - Götz Froeschke
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Dewald Kleynhans
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
| | - Luther van der Mescht
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Sean Heighton
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
| | - Sonja Matthee
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Armanda Bastos
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
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6
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Young HS, McCauley DJ, Dirzo R, Nunn CL, Campana MG, Agwanda B, Otarola-Castillo ER, Castillo ER, Pringle RM, Veblen KE, Salkeld DJ, Stewardson K, Fleischer R, Lambin EF, Palmer TM, Helgen KM. Interacting effects of land use and climate on rodent-borne pathogens in central Kenya. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0116. [PMID: 28438909 PMCID: PMC5413868 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on zoonotic disease risk is both a critical conservation objective and a public health priority. Here, we evaluate the effects of multiple forms of anthropogenic disturbance across a precipitation gradient on the abundance of pathogen-infected small mammal hosts in a multi-host, multi-pathogen system in central Kenya. Our results suggest that conversion to cropland and wildlife loss alone drive systematic increases in rodent-borne pathogen prevalence, but that pastoral conversion has no such systematic effects. The effects are most likely explained both by changes in total small mammal abundance, and by changes in relative abundance of a few high-competence species, although changes in vector assemblages may also be involved. Several pathogens responded to interactions between disturbance type and climatic conditions, suggesting the potential for synergistic effects of anthropogenic disturbance and climate change on the distribution of disease risk. Overall, these results indicate that conservation can be an effective tool for reducing abundance of rodent-borne pathogens in some contexts (e.g. wildlife loss alone); however, given the strong variation in effects across disturbance types, pathogen taxa and environmental conditions, the use of conservation as public health interventions will need to be carefully tailored to specific pathogens and human contexts. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Conservation, biodiversity and infectious disease: scientific evidence and policy implications’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary S Young
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA .,Mpala Research Centre, Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Douglas J McCauley
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.,Mpala Research Centre, Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Rodolfo Dirzo
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Charles L Nunn
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.,Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Michael G Campana
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | | | | | - Eric R Castillo
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Robert M Pringle
- Mpala Research Centre, Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Kari E Veblen
- Mpala Research Centre, Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Daniel J Salkeld
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Kristin Stewardson
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Robert Fleischer
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Eric F Lambin
- Department of Earth System Science and Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Todd M Palmer
- Mpala Research Centre, Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kristofer M Helgen
- Division of Mammals, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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7
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Community structure of fleas within and among populations of three closely related rodent hosts: nestedness and beta-diversity. Parasitology 2016; 143:1268-78. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182016000664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYWe studied nestedness and its relationships with beta-diversity in flea communities harboured by three closely related rodent species (Rhabdomys pumilio, Rhabdomys intermedius, Rhabdomys dilectus) at two spatial scales (within and among host populations) in South Africa and asked (a) whether variation in species composition of flea communities within and among host populations follows a non-random pattern; if yes, (b) what are the contributions of nestedness and species turnover to dissimilarity (= beta-diversity) among flea communities at the two scales; and (c) do the degree of nestedness and its contribution to beta-diversity differ among host species (socialvssolitary) and between scales. We found that nestedness in flea assemblages was more pronounced (a) in social than solitary host species and (b) at lower (among host individuals within populations) than at higher scale (among host populations). We also found that higher degree of nestedness was associated with its higher contribution to beta-diversity. Our findings support earlier ideas that parasite community structure results from the processes of parasite accumulation by hosts rather than from the processes acting within parasite communities.
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8
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van der Mescht L, Matthee S, Matthee CA. A genetic perspective on the taxonomy and evolution of the medically important flea,Dinopsyllus ellobius(Siphonaptera: Dinopsyllinae), and the resurrection ofDinopsyllus abaris. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luther van der Mescht
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 South Africa
- Evolutionary Genomics Group; Department of Botany and Zoology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 South Africa
| | - Sonja Matthee
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 South Africa
| | - Conrad A. Matthee
- Evolutionary Genomics Group; Department of Botany and Zoology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 South Africa
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van der Mescht L, Matthee S, Matthee CA. Comparative phylogeography between two generalist flea species reveal a complex interaction between parasite life history and host vicariance: parasite-host association matters. BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:105. [PMID: 26058755 PMCID: PMC4460865 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0389-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In parasitic taxa, life history traits such as microhabitat preference and host specificity can result in differential evolutionary responses to similar abiotic events. The present study investigates the influence of vicariance and host association on the genetic structure of two generalist flea species, Listropsylla agrippinae, and Chiastopsylla rossi. The taxa differ in the time spent on the host (predominantly fur vs. nest) and level of host specificity. Results A total of 1056 small mammals were brushed to collect 315 fleas originating from 20 geographically distinct localities in South Africa. Phylogeographic genetic structure of L. agrippinae and C. rossi were determined by making use of 315 mitochondrial COII and 174 nuclear EF1-α sequences. Both parasites show significant genetic differentiation among the majority of the sampling sites confirming limited dispersal ability for fleas. The generalist fur flea with a narrower host range, L. agrippinae, displayed geographic mtDNA spatial genetic structure at the regional scale and this pattern is congruent with host vicariance. The dating of the divergence between the L. agrippinae geographic clades co-insides with paleoclimatic changes in the region approximately 5.27 Ma and this provides some evidence for a co-evolutionary scenario. In contrast, the more host opportunistic nest flea, C. rossi, showed a higher level of mtDNA and nDNA spatial genetic structure at the inter-populational scale, most likely attributed to comparatively higher restrictions to dispersal. Conclusions In the present study, the evolutionary history of the flea species could best be explained by the association between parasite and host (time spent on the host). The phylogeographic pattern of the fur flea with a narrower host range correspond to host spatial genetic structures, while the pattern in the host opportunistic nest flea correspond to higher genetic divergences between sampling localities that may also be associated with higher effective population sizes. These findings suggest that genetic exchange among localities are most likely explained by differences in the dispersal abilities and life histories of the flea species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0389-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luther van der Mescht
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag ×1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa. .,Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag ×1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Sonja Matthee
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag ×1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Conrad A Matthee
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag ×1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
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10
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Young HS, Dirzo R, McCauley DJ, Agwanda B, Cattaneo L, Dittmar K, Eckerlin RP, Fleischer RC, Helgen LE, Hintz A, Montinieri J, Zhao S, Helgen KM. Drivers of Intensity and Prevalence of Flea Parasitism on Small Mammals in East African Savanna Ecosystems. J Parasitol 2015; 101:327-35. [PMID: 25634599 DOI: 10.1645/14-684.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The relative importance of environmental factors and host factors in explaining variation in prevalence and intensity of flea parasitism in small mammal communities is poorly established. We examined these relationships in an East African savanna landscape, considering multiple host levels: across individuals within a local population, across populations within species, and across species within a landscape. We sampled fleas from 2,672 small mammals of 27 species. This included a total of 8,283 fleas, with 5 genera and 12 species identified. Across individual hosts within a site, both rodent body mass and season affected total intensity of flea infestation, although the explanatory power of these factors was generally modest (<10%). Across host populations in the landscape, we found consistently positive effects of host density and negative effects of vegetation cover on the intensity of flea infestation. Other factors explored (host diversity, annual rainfall, anthropogenic disturbance, and soil properties) tended to have lower and less consistent explanatory power. Across host species in the landscape, we found that host body mass was strongly positively correlated with both prevalence and intensity of flea parasitism, while average robustness of a host species to disturbance was not correlated with flea parasitism. Cumulatively, these results provide insight into the intricate roles of both host and environmental factors in explaining complex patterns of flea parasitism across landscape mosaics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary S Young
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106
| | | | - Douglas J McCauley
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106
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Froeschke G, Matthee S. Landscape characteristics influence helminth infestations in a peri-domestic rodent--implications for possible zoonotic disease. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:393. [PMID: 25159989 PMCID: PMC4158073 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anthropogenic habitat change often results in altered landscapes that can provide new environments where hosts, parasites and pathogens can interact. The latter can have implications for human and animal health when in close proximity to developed areas. We recorded the helminth species richness and level of infestation in the peri-domestic rodent, Rhabdomys pumilio, in three different human linked landscapes. The aim was, to investigate the potential of R. pumilio to act as a reservoir host for zoonotic helminths and to compare the effect of anthropogenic habitat change on its parasite infestation patterns. METHODS Rodents (n = 518) were trapped in natural areas (nature reserves) and in three human linked landscapes (crop, livestock and urban fragments). Gastrointestinal parasite burdens were recovered and helminths identified from each animal. Generalized linear models were applied to investigate the effect of different landscape types on helminth infestation. RESULTS Rhabdomys pumilio was the most abundant rodent species within each landscape type. Eight helminths species were recovered and overall helminth prevalence was 86.68%. Mean helminth species richness, prevalence and abundance were significantly higher in crop fragments compared to natural landscapes and overall lower for nematodes in livestock and urban areas. Cestode prevalence showed a tendency to be elevated at anthropogenic linked landscape types. CONCLUSIONS Host parameters and parasite infestations were strongly influenced by landscape characteristics. Resource-rich landscapes (crop fragments) provide favorable conditions for helminth infestations, while landscapes that are more closely associated with humans (livestock and urban landscapes) pose a larger risk by zoonotic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Götz Froeschke
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602 South Africa
| | - Sonja Matthee
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602 South Africa
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