Population expansion and individual age affect endoparasite richness and diversity in a recolonising large carnivore population.

ABSTRACT: The recent recolonisation of the Central European lowland (CEL) by the grey wolf (Canis lupus) provides an excellent opportunity to study the effect of founder events on endoparasite diversity. Which role do prey and predator populations play in the re-establishment of endoparasite life cycles? Which intrinsic and extrinsic factors control individual endoparasite diversity in an expanding host population? In 53 individually known CEL wolves sampled in Germany, we revealed a community of four cestode, eight nematode, one trematode and 12 potential Sarcocystis species through molecular genetic techniques. Infections with zoonotic Echinococcus multilocularis, Trichinella britovi and T. spiralis occurred as single cases. Per capita endoparasite species richness and diversity significantly incr

SUBMITTER: Lesniak I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5269671 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature