Nematode-coccidia parasite co-infections in African buffalo: Epidemiology and associations with host condition and pregnancy.

ABSTRACT: Co-infections are common in natural populations and interactions among co-infecting parasites can significantly alter the transmission and host fitness costs of infection. Because both exposure and susceptibility vary over time, predicting the consequences of parasite interactions on host fitness and disease dynamics may require detailed information on their effects across different environmental (season) and host demographic (age, sex) conditions. This study examines five years of seasonal health and co-infection patterns in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). We use data on two groups of gastrointestinal parasites, coccidia and nematodes, to test the hypothesis that co-infection and season interact to influence (1) parasite prevalence and intensity and (2) three proxies for host fitness:

SUBMITTER: Gorsich EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4142258 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature