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The dynamics of macroparasite host-self-infection: a study of the patterns and processes of pinworm (Oxyuridae) aggregation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2011

DANIEL A. GREAR  and
PETER HUDSON
DANIEL A. GREAR*
Affiliation:
Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, 208 Mueller Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, USA
PETER HUDSON
Affiliation:
Huck Institute of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 201 Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Tel: +1 814 863 5895. Fax: +1 814 865 9131. E-mail: dag268@psu.edu
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Summary

Objectives. Among parasites, Taylor's power law identifies a tight relationship in aggregation of macroparasite infection intensity with few exceptions; notably, the nematode family Oxyuridae tends to have higher than expected aggregation. Oxyuridae infect a wide range of mammalian hosts and have a unique reproductive strategy that involves conventional horizontal transmission, as well as re-infection of an already infected host. We asked the question, do the unique aspects of pinworm life-history explain an exception to the widely observed patterns of aggregation of parasite populations? Methods. We empirically examined the differences among Oxyuridae (genus: Syphacia) compared with other helminth (genus: Heligmosomoides) parasite aggregations in 2 rodent hosts with similar ecology: the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) from Trento, Italy and the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) from Pennsylvania, USA. To investigate the effects of pinworm life-history characteristics on generating aggregation, we present a stochastic model that explores aggregation under a range of host-self-infection, parasite death, and transmission scenarios. Results. Oxyuridae parasites had consistently greater aggregation compared to other nematodes regardless of host or parasite species identity, and pinworm aggregation exceeded the range of macroparasite aggregation described previously. Conclusions. Our simulations demonstrate that host-self-infection, on its own, is sufficient to generate aggregation values greater than the predicted values.

Keywords

aggregationTaylor's power lawOxyuridaemacroparasite dynamicsApodemusPeromyscus
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 138 , Issue 5 , April 2011 , pp. 619 - 627
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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