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Gibson AK, Amoroso CR. Evolution and Ecology of Parasite Avoidance. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND SYSTEMATICS 2022; 53:47-67. [PMID: 36479162 PMCID: PMC9724790 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102220-020636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Parasite avoidance is a host defense that reduces the contact rate with parasites. We investigate avoidance as a primary driver of variation among individuals in the risk of parasitism and the evolution of host-parasite interactions. To bridge mechanistic and taxonomic divides, we define and categorize avoidance by its function and position in the sequence of host defenses. We also examine the role of avoidance in limiting epidemics and evaluate evidence for the processes that drive its evolution. Throughout, we highlight important directions to advance our conceptual and theoretical understanding of the role of avoidance in host-parasite interactions. We emphasize the need to test assumptions and quantify the effect of avoidance independent of other defenses. Importantly, many open questions may be most tractable in host systems that have not been the focus of traditional behavioral avoidance research, such as plants and invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Gibson
- Department of Biology; University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Caroline R Amoroso
- Department of Biology; University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
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Bassey GB, Clarke AIL, Elhelu OK, Lee CM. Trichomoniasis, a new look at a common but neglected STI in African descendance population in the United States and the Black Diaspora. A review of its incidence, research prioritization, and the resulting health disparities. J Natl Med Assoc 2022; 114:78-89. [PMID: 35042602 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Structural racism plays a significant role in limited access to higher education, financial resources, employment opportunities, and high-quality healthcare for African Americans. The lack of healthcare equity and infrastructure has directly contributed to overall poor healthcare outcomes for the Black community. Studies have shown that adverse health outcomes such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are more prevalent in African Americans, regardless of their socioeconomic factors and lifestyles. For example, trichomoniasis, transmitted sexually by its etiological agent, Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis), predisposes those infected to co-infections with other STDs, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes, and other related infections. Our review showcases the impact of trichomoniasis on the health of the Black community with an emphasis on African American women. A critical examination of the socio-demographic history of Black people in the United States (US) is vital to illustrate the origin of past and current racial health disparities. Further, we expand the complex and nuanced conversation on the intersectionality of racism, health equity, and innovative epidemiological and biomedical research strategies needed to eradicate this global public health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Clarence M Lee
- Howard University, Department of Biology, Washington, DC, USA
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Host age predicts parasite occurrence, richness, and nested infracommunities in a pilot whale-helminth network. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2237-2244. [PMID: 32451718 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06716-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Ecological data on marine mammal parasites represent an excellent opportunity to expand our understanding of host-parasite systems. In this study, we used a dataset of intestinal helminth parasites on 167 long-finned pilot whales Globicephala melas (Traill, 1809) from seven localities in the Faroe Islands to evaluate the extent to which the host's age and sex influence the occurrence, richness, and nested pattern of helminth parasites and the importance of individual hosts to the helminth community. We found positive effects of age on both the occurrence and richness of helminths. Older host individuals showed an ordered accumulation of parasites, as evidenced by the nested pattern in their composition. Males had a higher occurrence of parasites than females, but the richness of helminths did not differ between sexes. Our findings suggest that differences in host-parasite interactions in long-finned pilot whales result mainly from age-structured variations in biological and behavioral characteristics.
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Rowe M, Veerus L, Trosvik P, Buckling A, Pizzari T. The Reproductive Microbiome: An Emerging Driver of Sexual Selection, Sexual Conflict, Mating Systems, and Reproductive Isolation. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:220-234. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Paciência FMD, Rushmore J, Chuma IS, Lipende IF, Caillaud D, Knauf S, Zinner D. Mating avoidance in female olive baboons ( Papio anubis) infected by Treponema pallidum. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaaw9724. [PMID: 31840059 PMCID: PMC6892622 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw9724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are ubiquitous within wild animal populations, yet it remains largely unknown whether animals evolved behavioral avoidance mechanisms in response to STI acquisition. We investigated the mating behavior of a wild population of olive baboons (Papio anubis) infected by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. This pathogen causes highly conspicuous genital ulcerations in males and females, which signal infectious individuals. We analyzed data on 876 mating attempts and associated acceptance or rejection responses in a group of about 170 baboons. Our findings indicate that females are more likely to avoid copulation if either the mating partner or females themselves have ulcerated genitals. We suggest that this outcome is linked to the overall higher choosiness and infection-risk susceptibility typically exhibited by females. Our results show that selection pressures imposed by pathogens induce individual behavioral modifications, leading to altered mate choice and could reduce promiscuity in a wild nonhuman primate population.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. M. D. Paciência
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Work Group Neglected Tropical Diseases, Infection Biology Unit, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - J. Rushmore
- EpiCenter for Disease Dynamics, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - I. S. Chuma
- Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3000, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - I. F. Lipende
- Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3000, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - D. Caillaud
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - S. Knauf
- Work Group Neglected Tropical Diseases, Infection Biology Unit, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - D. Zinner
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
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Impacts of infection avoidance for populations affected by sexually transmitted infections. J Theor Biol 2018; 455:64-74. [PMID: 29981756 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections are ubiquitous in nature and affect many populations. The key process for their transmission is mating, usually preceded by mate choice. Susceptible individuals may avoid mating with infected individuals to prevent infection provided it is recognizable. We show that accounting for infection avoidance significantly alters host population dynamics. We observe bistability between the disease-free and endemic or disease-induced extinction equilibria, significant abrupt reduction in the host population size and disease-induced host extinction. From the population persistence perspective, the best strategy is either not to avoid mating with the infected individuals, to prevent disease-induced host extinction, or to completely avoid mating with the infected individuals, to prevent pathogen invasion. Increasing sterilization efficiency of the infection leads to lower population sizes and reduced effect of mating avoidance. We also find that the disease-free state is more often attained by populations with strong polyandry, whereas a high-density endemic state is more often observed for populations with strong polygyny, suggesting that polygamy rather than monogamy may be promoted in denser host populations.
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de Roode JC, Lefèvre T. Behavioral Immunity in Insects. INSECTS 2012; 3:789-820. [PMID: 26466629 PMCID: PMC4553590 DOI: 10.3390/insects3030789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2012] [Revised: 07/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/10/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Parasites can dramatically reduce the fitness of their hosts, and natural selection should favor defense mechanisms that can protect hosts against disease. Much work has focused on understanding genetic and physiological immunity against parasites, but hosts can also use behaviors to avoid infection, reduce parasite growth or alleviate disease symptoms. It is increasingly recognized that such behaviors are common in insects, providing strong protection against parasites and parasitoids. We review the current evidence for behavioral immunity in insects, present a framework for investigating such behavior, and emphasize that behavioral immunity may act through indirect rather than direct fitness benefits. We also discuss the implications for host-parasite co-evolution, local adaptation, and the evolution of non-behavioral physiological immune systems. Finally, we argue that the study of behavioral immunity in insects has much to offer for investigations in vertebrates, in which this topic has traditionally been studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobus C de Roode
- Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Thierry Lefèvre
- MIVEGEC (UM1-UM2-CNRS 5290-IRD 224), Centre IRD, 911 Av. Agropolis-BP 64501, Montpellier 34394, France.
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Rosengaus RB, James LT, Hartke TR, Brent CS. Mate preference and disease risk in Zootermopsis angusticollis (Isoptera: Termopsidae). ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2011; 40:1554-1565. [PMID: 22217773 DOI: 10.1603/en11055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Termites face significant and chronic intranidal selection pressures from parasites and pathogens that colonize their nests. They also encounter microbes outside their nest while foraging and during dispersal of winged primary reproductives to establish new colonies. The latter run the additional risk of becoming infected by a mating partner. Indeed, death of reproductives because of disease is a major cause of incipient colony failure and may favor prescreening prospective mates for signs of illness. To determine the role of disease on mate preference in termites, female primary reproductives of the Pacific dampwood termite Zootermopsis angusticollis (Hagen) simultaneously were presented with reproductive males that were either healthy or exhibiting a progression of symptoms associated with infection by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff Sorokin). We compared duration and frequency of female visits to healthy and infected males. In addition, we determined the physiological consequences for females exposed to fungal conidia, either directly or indirectly through their mate. Females showed no preference for healthy rather than infected males. Moreover, only directly-exposed females experienced negative physiological effects, having a reduced chance of survival, gaining less weight, developing fewer functional ovarioles, and producing significantly fewer vitellogenic oocytes than controls. Although there are important fitness-related costs of direct exposure, the lack of mate selection based on disease risk suggests that more imminent ecological pressures (e.g., predators, desiccation) override the need for a careful and time-consuming assessment of a potential mate's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca B Rosengaus
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 134 Mugar Life Sciences Bldg., 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115-5000, USA.
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