Sex-biased polyparasitism in moose (Alces alces) based on molecular analysis of faecal samples.

ABSTRACT: Simultaneous infection with multiple parasite species in an individual host is often observed in wild populations. The understanding of parasite species distribution across populations of wild animals is of basic and applied importance, because parasites can have pronounced effects on the dynamics of host population. Here, we quantified prevalence and endoparasite species richness in moose and explored sex-biased polyparasitism using diagnostic PCR method coupled with DNA sequencing of moose faecal samples from the Biebrza River valley, North-Eastern Poland. This is the largest moose population in Central Europe that has not been harvested for almost 20 years. We also evaluated the appropriate quantity of faeces for detecting DNA of parasite species. Faecal samples were screened for molecu

SUBMITTER: Swislocka M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7591323 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature