A community analysis approach to parasite transmission in multi-host systems: Assemblages of small mammal prey and Echinococcus multilocularis in an urban area in North America.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) is a parasite with a complex life cycle whose transmission involves a predator-prey interaction. Accidental ingestion of Em eggs by humans may cause alveolar echinococcosis, a potentially fatal disease. Although previous research suggested that the composition of the assemblage of prey species may play a key role in the transmission, the relation between Em presence and the prey assemblages has never been analyzed. Herein, we propose a community analysis approach, based on assemblage similarity statistics, clustering, non-metric dimensional scaling and GLM modelling to analyze the relationships between small mammal assemblages, environmental variables, and the prevalence of Em in intermediate and definit

SUBMITTER: Mori K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6449735 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature