Genomic heterozygosity is associated with parasite abundance, but the effects are not mediated by host condition.

ABSTRACT: Whether, when, and how genetic diversity buffers individuals and populations against infectious disease risk is a critical and open question for understanding wildlife disease and zoonotic disease risk. Several, but not all, studies have found negative relationships between infection and heterozygosity in wildlife. Since they can host multiple zoonotic infections, we sampled a population of wild deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), sequenced their genomes, and examined their fecal samples for coccidia and nematode eggs. We analyzed coccidia infection status, abundance, and coinfection status in relation to per-locus and per-individual measures of heterozygosity, as well as identified SNPs associated with infection status. Since heterozygosity might affect host condition, and conditio

SUBMITTER: Budischak SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9666582 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature