title: Filaria zoogeography in Africa: ecology, competitive exclusion, and public health relevance.
abstract: Six species of filariae infect humans in sub-Saharan Africa. We hypothesise that these nematodes are able to polyparasitise human hosts by having successfully, through competitive exclusion, adapted to distinct niches. Despite inhabiting the same host, adult stages reside in different tissue sites. Microfilariae of some species exhibit temporal separation by reaching peak levels in the blood at specific times of day. Spatial and temporal distributions in microfilaria location are exploited by the vector feeding-behaviour whereas adult survival is enhanced by occupying exclusive 'ecological' niches of the body. We present specific examples to demonstrate this concept, which is not only important from the biological aspect but important in the context of elimination programmes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK. Electronic address: david.molyneux@liv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Molyneux
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mitre
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.
authors.forename: Moses J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bockarie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.
authors.forename: Louise A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kelly-Hope
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D004463:Ecology; D005368:Filariasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005843:Geography; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology
keywords: Africa; competitive exclusion; filarial parasites; insect vectors; zoogeography