Effect of host species diversity on multiparasite systems in rodent communities

Reduced species diversity has been suggested to increase transmission rates and prevalence of infectious diseases. While this theory has been studied mostly in single pathogen systems, little is known regarding multiple pathogens systems in vertebrates at the community level. The aim of this study w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology research (1987) 2014, Vol.113 (1), p.447-450
Main Authors: Rendón-Franco, Emilio, Muñoz-García, Claudia I, Romero-Callejas, Evangelina, Moreno-Torres, Karla I, Suzán, Gerardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biodiversity
Biological diversity
Biological research
Biology, Experimental
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
eggs
feces
Feces - parasitology
Health aspects
Host-Parasite Interactions
Host-parasite relationships
Immunology
infectious diseases
Medical Microbiology
Mexico
Microbiology
oocysts
Parasite Egg Count
parasites
pathogens
Physiological aspects
Rodentia - parasitology
Rodents
Short Communication
species diversity
vegetation types
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Summary:Reduced species diversity has been suggested to increase transmission rates and prevalence of infectious diseases. While this theory has been studied mostly in single pathogen systems, little is known regarding multiple pathogens systems in vertebrates at the community level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of host richness and diversity on multiple parasite systems on a local scale. We captured small rodents and collected feces in three different vegetation types in a natural protected area in Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico. The flotation technique was used to identify parasite eggs or oocysts. Analysis of linear correlations was conducted between parasite prevalence and host and parasite diversity and richness. Negative correlation was detected between parasite prevalence and host diversity (p = 0.02 r ² =−0.86), but no significant correlations was detected between parasite prevalence and host richness or parasite diversity or richness. Our study shows that at local scale, host diversity could affect multiple parasite systems in the same way that single pathogens do. Further studies should be performed on larger temporal and spatial scales to more thoroughly investigate the correlation observed in our analysis.
ISSN:0932-0113
1432-1955
DOI:10.1007/s00436-013-3735-2