Niche Restriction and Host Gut Bacterial Sensitivity in Intestinal Nematodes of the African Nightcrawler.

ABSTRACT: Niche restriction is observed in tandem with the life history traits of parasites, reflecting their response to changing host conditions. Mesidionema praecomasculatis predominantly inhabits the anterior intestine of the host earthworm African nightcrawler, whereas Thelastoma endoscolicum, a pinworm, resides in the hindgut, which is characterized by a higher population of resident bacteria. Control experiments indicate that both intestinal nematodes are sensitive to environmental residues of the anthelmintic mebendazole. However, reductions in T. endoscolicum infection were observed only after host exposure to food limitation or the antibiotic streptomycin, both of which also reduced gut bacterial abundance. These findings underscore the strong correlation between T.

SUBMITTER: Chiu MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12722140 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature