Genotypic variation in parasite avoidance behaviour and other mechanistic, nonlinear components of transmission.

ABSTRACT: Traditional epidemiological models assume that transmission increases proportionally to the density of parasites. However, empirical data frequently contradict this assumption. General yet mechanistic models can explain why transmission depends nonlinearly on parasite density and thereby identify potential defensive strategies of hosts. For example, hosts could decrease their exposure rates at higher parasite densities (via behavioural avoidance) or decrease their per-parasite susceptibility when encountering more parasites (e.g. via stronger immune responses). To illustrate, we fitted mechanistic transmission models to 19 genotypes of Daphnia dentifera hosts over gradients of the trophically acquired parasite, Metschnikowia bicuspidata. Exposure rate (foraging, F</

SUBMITTER: Strauss AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6892051 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature