Parasite transmission and cannibalism in an amphipod (Crustacea).
In its freshwater amphipod host Gammarus duebeni celticus, the microsporidian parasite Pleistophora mulleri showed 23% transmission efficiency when uninfected individuals were fed infected tissue, but 0% transmission by water-borne and coprophagous routes. Cannibalism between unparasitised and parasitised individuals was significantly in favour of the former (37% compared to 0%). In addition, cannibalism between parasitised individuals was significantly higher than between unparasitised individuals (27% compared to 0%). Thus, parasitised individuals were more likely to be cannibalised by both unparasitised and parasitised individuals. We discuss the conflicting selective forces within this host/parasite relationship, the implications of parasite mediated cannibalism for host population structure and the impacts this may have on the wider aquatic community.
MacNeil
Calum
C
School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK. c.macneil@qub.ac.uk
Dick
Jaimie T A
JT
Hatcher
Melanie J
MJ
Fielding
Nina J
NJ
Hume
Kevin D
KD
Dunn
Alison M
AM
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002190:Cannibalism; D003445:Crustacea / Q000469:parasitology*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000469:parasitology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D021864:Pleistophora