A model to explain the origin of a parasite sex-specific population structure.
A discrete time model was built to understand the origin of the sex-specific population structure of the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni. We have estimated both male/female individual ratio and male/female genotype ratio of this parasite taking into account all the experimental published values on differential male and female life-history traits all along the life cycle. We considered in our model male and female life-history traits when both separated and together. The model showed that both male/female individual ratio and male/female genotype ratio of S. mansoni adults are biased toward males in each combination. This bias was more important in male/female genotype ratio than in the male/female individual ratio for the same initial values of cercarial development success. This model could explain the sex specific population structure of this parasite. Firstly, we showed that the male-biased individual ratio finds its origin in the vertebrate host. Secondly, we showed that the male-biased genotype ratio originates prior to any interrelationship between adult worms and could generate by itself a sex-specific genetic structure.
Boissier
J
J
Functional and Evolutive Parasitology (UMR 5555), University of Perpignan, France. boissier@univ-perp.fr
Jarkovsky
J
J
Morand
S
S
Moné
H
H
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*