title: The effects of host population density on the epidemiology of the trichostrongyle nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus.
abstract: The present study considers the effect mouse population density on the fecundity, expressed as daily egg output per gram of faeces, and infectivity of the trichostrongyle nematode. Heligmosomoides polygyrus and in the field mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and H. p. bakeri in laboratory mouse (CD1). The higher host density resulted in an increased fecundity of H. polygyrus compared with medium and lower host densities. However, the number of H. p. polygyrus and H. p. bakeri recovered 30 days post-infection indicated an increase in worm recovery with increasing host population density. Overcrowding in a host density may affect susceptibility to infection as a result of stress-mediated immunodepression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science, Faculty of Technology, Qatar University, Doha-Qatar.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abu-Madi
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D009115:Muridae; D009351:Nematospiroides dubius / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D010058:Oviposition; D011156:Population Density; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*