Host preference of an introduced 'generalist' parasite for a non-native host.
Int J Parasitol
; 45(11): 703-9, 2015 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26056736
ABSTRACT
Parasites can invade new ecosystems if they are introduced with their native hosts or if they successfully infect and colonise new hosts upon arrival. Here, we ask to what extent an introduced parasite demonstrates specialisation among novel host species. Infection surveys across three field sites in Gatun Lake, Panama, revealed that the invasive peacock bass, Cichla monoculus, was more commonly infected by the introduced trematode parasite Centrocestus formosanus than were three other common cichlid fishes. Laboratory infection experiments were conducted to determine whether parasitism might be driven by differential encounter/exposure to parasites or by differential infection susceptibility/preference across different host species. These experiments were performed by controlling for parasite exposure in single host (compatibility) experiments and in mixed host (preference) experiments. In all cases, the peacock bass exhibited higher infection rates with viable metacercariae relative to the other potential fish hosts. Our experiments thus support that an introduced generalist parasite shows apparent specialisation on a specific novel host. Further studies are needed to determine whether these patterns of specialisation are the result of local adaptation following invasion by the parasite.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Contexto em Saúde:
3_ND
Problema de saúde:
3_zoonosis
Assunto principal:
Ciclídeos
/
Especificidade de Hospedeiro
/
Heterophyidae
Limite:
Animals
País/Região como assunto:
America central
/
Panama
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Parasitol
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article