Large-bodied gastric spirurids (Nematoda, Spirurida) predict structure in the downstream gastrointestinal helminth community of wild spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus)
The dominant helminths infecting spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) in the montane wadis of the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt are spirurid nematodes, notably Protospirura muricola and Mastophorus muris. Both are relatively large robust stomach worms that accumulate in hosts resulting in high worm burdens. To...
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Cambridge University Press
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Parasitology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182024000891/type/journal_article |
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| author | Jerzy M. Behnke Joseph A. Jackson Francis Gilbert Eman M. E. Mohallal Anna Bajer |
| author_facet | Jerzy M. Behnke Joseph A. Jackson Francis Gilbert Eman M. E. Mohallal Anna Bajer |
| author_sort | Jerzy M. Behnke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The dominant helminths infecting spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) in the montane wadis of the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt are spirurid nematodes, notably Protospirura muricola and Mastophorus muris. Both are relatively large robust stomach worms that accumulate in hosts resulting in high worm burdens. To ascertain whether the presence of spirurid worms or their burdens alters the host's likelihood of infection with other helminth species, we analysed a database containing quantitative data on helminth parasites of these mice (n = 431). This comprised of worm burdens recorded during 4 surveys, conducted at 4-year intervals, in 4 wadis, during late summer of each year. The presence of spirurid worms did not significantly alter species richness with other helminth species nor the likelihood of mice carrying other nematode species. However, there was a significant association, particularly of P. muricola, with the presence of intestinal stages of cestodes, and with the acanthocephalan Moniliformis acomysi. After controlling for intrinsic and extrinsic factors, mice harbouring spirurid worms had greater worm burdens of other helminths compared with mice without spirurids. Moreover, spirurid worm burdens showed a significant positive covariation with similarly adjusted species richness of other helminths, non-spirurid helminths, non-spirurid nematodes, oxyuroid nematodes and intestinal stage cestode worm burdens. We interpret these results as an indication that the key driver for co-occurrence of spirurids with other helminths is likely to be transmission via common arthropod hosts (for cestodes and acanthocephalans), but also that mice carrying the heavier spirurid worm burdens become more susceptible to directly transmitted nematodes such as the Oxyuroidea. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d12e153d8bc347d784ee4fe2735ea68f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0031-1820 1469-8161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
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| series | Parasitology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d12e153d8bc347d784ee4fe2735ea68f2024-11-15T13:59:24ZengCambridge University PressParasitology0031-18201469-81612024-07-0115180882010.1017/S0031182024000891Large-bodied gastric spirurids (Nematoda, Spirurida) predict structure in the downstream gastrointestinal helminth community of wild spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus)Jerzy M. Behnke0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9396-2572Joseph A. Jackson1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0330-5478Francis Gilbert2Eman M. E. Mohallal3Anna Bajer4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6199-8458School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UKSchool of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UKSchool of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UKThe Ecology Unit of Desert Animals, Desert Research Centre, 1 Mataf El Matareya St, El Matareya, Cairo, EgyptDepartment of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, PolandThe dominant helminths infecting spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) in the montane wadis of the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt are spirurid nematodes, notably Protospirura muricola and Mastophorus muris. Both are relatively large robust stomach worms that accumulate in hosts resulting in high worm burdens. To ascertain whether the presence of spirurid worms or their burdens alters the host's likelihood of infection with other helminth species, we analysed a database containing quantitative data on helminth parasites of these mice (n = 431). This comprised of worm burdens recorded during 4 surveys, conducted at 4-year intervals, in 4 wadis, during late summer of each year. The presence of spirurid worms did not significantly alter species richness with other helminth species nor the likelihood of mice carrying other nematode species. However, there was a significant association, particularly of P. muricola, with the presence of intestinal stages of cestodes, and with the acanthocephalan Moniliformis acomysi. After controlling for intrinsic and extrinsic factors, mice harbouring spirurid worms had greater worm burdens of other helminths compared with mice without spirurids. Moreover, spirurid worm burdens showed a significant positive covariation with similarly adjusted species richness of other helminths, non-spirurid helminths, non-spirurid nematodes, oxyuroid nematodes and intestinal stage cestode worm burdens. We interpret these results as an indication that the key driver for co-occurrence of spirurids with other helminths is likely to be transmission via common arthropod hosts (for cestodes and acanthocephalans), but also that mice carrying the heavier spirurid worm burdens become more susceptible to directly transmitted nematodes such as the Oxyuroidea.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182024000891/type/journal_articleAcanthocephalaAcomys dimidiatusarthropod-mediated transmissionassociations and interactions between helminth speciesCestodaNematodaOxyuroideaspiny miceSpirurida |
| spellingShingle | Jerzy M. Behnke Joseph A. Jackson Francis Gilbert Eman M. E. Mohallal Anna Bajer Large-bodied gastric spirurids (Nematoda, Spirurida) predict structure in the downstream gastrointestinal helminth community of wild spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) Parasitology Acanthocephala Acomys dimidiatus arthropod-mediated transmission associations and interactions between helminth species Cestoda Nematoda Oxyuroidea spiny mice Spirurida |
| title | Large-bodied gastric spirurids (Nematoda, Spirurida) predict structure in the downstream gastrointestinal helminth community of wild spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) |
| title_full | Large-bodied gastric spirurids (Nematoda, Spirurida) predict structure in the downstream gastrointestinal helminth community of wild spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) |
| title_fullStr | Large-bodied gastric spirurids (Nematoda, Spirurida) predict structure in the downstream gastrointestinal helminth community of wild spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Large-bodied gastric spirurids (Nematoda, Spirurida) predict structure in the downstream gastrointestinal helminth community of wild spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) |
| title_short | Large-bodied gastric spirurids (Nematoda, Spirurida) predict structure in the downstream gastrointestinal helminth community of wild spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) |
| title_sort | large bodied gastric spirurids nematoda spirurida predict structure in the downstream gastrointestinal helminth community of wild spiny mice acomys dimidiatus |
| topic | Acanthocephala Acomys dimidiatus arthropod-mediated transmission associations and interactions between helminth species Cestoda Nematoda Oxyuroidea spiny mice Spirurida |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182024000891/type/journal_article |
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