It is normal for hosts to be co-infected by parasites. Interactions among co-infecting species can have profound consequences, including changing parasite transmission dynamics, altering disease severity and confounding attempts at parasite control. Despite the importance of co-infection, there is currently no way to predict how different parasite species may interact with one another, nor the consequences of those interactions. Here, we demonstrate a method that enables such prediction by identifying two nematode parasite groups based on taxonomy and characteristics of the parasitological niche. From an understanding of the interactions between the two defined groups in one host system (wild rabbits), we predict how two different nematode species, from the same defined groups, will interact in co-infections in a different host system (sheep), and then we test this experimentally. We show that, as predicted, in co-infections, the blood-feeding nematode Haemonchus contortus suppresses aspects of the sheep immune response, thereby facilitating the establishment and/or survival of the nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis; and that the T. colubriformis-induced immune response negatively affects H. contortus. This work is, to our knowledge, the first to use empirical data from one host system to successfully predict the specific outcome of a different co-infection in a second host species. The study therefore takes the first step in defining a practical framework for predicting interspecific parasite interactions in other animal systems.

Lello, J.; Mcclure, S.J.; Tyrrell, K.; Viney, M.E. (2018). Predicting the effects of parasite co-infection across species boundaries. PROCEEDINGS - ROYAL SOCIETY. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 285 (1874): 20172610. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2610 handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/47034

Predicting the effects of parasite co-infection across species boundaries

Lello, Joanne
Primo
;
2018-01-01

Abstract

It is normal for hosts to be co-infected by parasites. Interactions among co-infecting species can have profound consequences, including changing parasite transmission dynamics, altering disease severity and confounding attempts at parasite control. Despite the importance of co-infection, there is currently no way to predict how different parasite species may interact with one another, nor the consequences of those interactions. Here, we demonstrate a method that enables such prediction by identifying two nematode parasite groups based on taxonomy and characteristics of the parasitological niche. From an understanding of the interactions between the two defined groups in one host system (wild rabbits), we predict how two different nematode species, from the same defined groups, will interact in co-infections in a different host system (sheep), and then we test this experimentally. We show that, as predicted, in co-infections, the blood-feeding nematode Haemonchus contortus suppresses aspects of the sheep immune response, thereby facilitating the establishment and/or survival of the nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis; and that the T. colubriformis-induced immune response negatively affects H. contortus. This work is, to our knowledge, the first to use empirical data from one host system to successfully predict the specific outcome of a different co-infection in a second host species. The study therefore takes the first step in defining a practical framework for predicting interspecific parasite interactions in other animal systems.
Co-infection
Population dynamics
Immune response
Immunomodulation
Nematode
Helminths
Settore VET/06 - PARASSITOLOGIA E MALATTIE PARASSITARIE DEGLI ANIMALI
2018
Lello, J.; Mcclure, S.J.; Tyrrell, K.; Viney, M.E. (2018). Predicting the effects of parasite co-infection across species boundaries. PROCEEDINGS - ROYAL SOCIETY. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 285 (1874): 20172610. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2610 handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/47034
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
LelloRSPB20172610p_14_03_18.pdf

accesso aperto

Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 670.07 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
670.07 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10449/47034
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 24
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 20
social impact