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Individual variation underlies large-scale patterns: Host conditions and behavior affect parasitism.

Allison M Brehm1, Vania R Assis2, Lynn B Martin2

  • 1Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Ecology
|December 10, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Host traits like sex and body mass influence tick parasitism in white-footed mice. Mouse behavior, such as increased movement, also directly impacts tick acquisition, affecting disease risk.

Keywords:
Peromyscusectoparasitehost–vector interactionszoonoses

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Vector-borne disease research
  • Zoonotic disease dynamics

Background:

  • Understanding host-parasite interactions is crucial for vector-borne disease ecology.
  • Individual host characteristics can influence parasitism rates, but links are often hard to identify due to spatial and temporal variations in zoonoses.
  • The white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) is a keystone species for studying these dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationships between individual host condition, behavior, and Ixodid tick parasitism in white-footed mice.
  • To determine how host characteristics and behavior affect tick acquisition rates.
  • To understand the implications for zoonotic disease risk.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized seven years of data from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON).
  • Examined parasitism by Ixodid ticks in Peromyscus leucopus.
  • Analyzed correlations between host condition (sex, body mass, reproductive status) and behavior (movement) with tick load.

Main Results:

  • Individual host condition (sex, body mass, reproductive status) directly and indirectly affected tick parasitism.
  • The impact of host condition on parasitism differed between larval and nymphal ticks.
  • Increased host movement behavior was directly associated with a higher likelihood of carrying ticks.

Conclusions:

  • Intraspecific variation in host condition and behavior significantly influences host-parasite encounters.
  • Host movement ecology plays a key role in determining tick parasitism rates.
  • These findings have implications for predicting zoonotic disease risk, especially under changing environmental conditions affecting host behavior.