Longitudinal dynamics of co-infecting gastrointestinal parasites in a wild sheep population.

ABSTRACT: Within-year variation in infection is a ubiquitous feature of natural populations, but is determined by a complex interplay of environmental, parasitological and host factors. At the same time, co-infection is the norm in the wild. Longitudinal dynamics of co-infecting parasites may therefore be further complicated by covariation across multiple parasites. Here, we used fecal parasite egg and oocyst counts collected repeatedly from individually marked wild Soay sheep to investigate seasonal dynamics of six gastrointestinal parasite groups. Prevalence and abundance tended to be higher in spring and summer, and abundance was higher in lambs compared to adults. We found that within-year variation in highly prevalent strongyle nematode counts was dependent on adult reproductive status, where r

SUBMITTER: Sweeny AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10090596 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature