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INFECTION PRESSURE IS NECESSARY, BUT NOT SUFFICIENT BY ITSELF, TO EXPLAIN TOXOPLASMA GONDII SEROPREVALENCE IN INTERMEDIATE HOST SPECIES

INFECTION PRESSURE IS NECESSARY, BUT NOT SUFFICIENT BY ITSELF, TO EXPLAIN TOXOPLASMA GONDII... ABSTRACTParasite infection pressure is suggested to be a strong driver of transmission within ecosystems. We tested if infection pressure drives seroprevalence in intermediate host species for Toxoplasma gondii. We defined Toxoplasma infection pressure to intermediate host species as the combined influence of cat abundance, environmental conditions, and its prevalence in the cat population. We sampled and tested 2 species of rodent and collated information on Toxoplasma seroprevalence in koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, and sheep. All species were sampled using equivalent methods, within a 2-yr period, and from adjacent regions of low and high Toxoplasma infection pressure. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma in kangaroos scaled with infection pressure, but we observed no statistical difference in seroprevalence for any other species between these 2 regions. Within the region of low infection pressure, Toxoplasma seroprevalence did not differ between species. However, within the region of high Toxoplasma infection pressure, we observed large variation in seroprevalence between species. Our results demonstrate that infection pressure is not sufficient by itself, but merely necessary, to drive Toxoplasma seroprevalence in intermediate host species. Where Toxoplasma seroprevalence in an intermediate host species is already low, further reducing infection pressure will not necessarily further decrease seroprevalence in those species. This has important ramifications for the mitigation of parasite infections and suggests that reductions in Toxoplasma infection pressure, intended to reduce infections, may be most effective and applicable to species that are known to experience high rates of infection. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The Journal of Parasitology Allen Press

INFECTION PRESSURE IS NECESSARY, BUT NOT SUFFICIENT BY ITSELF, TO EXPLAIN TOXOPLASMA GONDII SEROPREVALENCE IN INTERMEDIATE HOST SPECIES

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The Journal of Parasitology , Volume 107 (4): 8 – Jul 16, 2021

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References (55)

Publisher
Allen Press
Copyright
© American Society of Parasitologists 2021
ISSN
0022-3395
eISSN
1937-2345
DOI
10.1645/21-28
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

ABSTRACTParasite infection pressure is suggested to be a strong driver of transmission within ecosystems. We tested if infection pressure drives seroprevalence in intermediate host species for Toxoplasma gondii. We defined Toxoplasma infection pressure to intermediate host species as the combined influence of cat abundance, environmental conditions, and its prevalence in the cat population. We sampled and tested 2 species of rodent and collated information on Toxoplasma seroprevalence in koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, and sheep. All species were sampled using equivalent methods, within a 2-yr period, and from adjacent regions of low and high Toxoplasma infection pressure. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma in kangaroos scaled with infection pressure, but we observed no statistical difference in seroprevalence for any other species between these 2 regions. Within the region of low infection pressure, Toxoplasma seroprevalence did not differ between species. However, within the region of high Toxoplasma infection pressure, we observed large variation in seroprevalence between species. Our results demonstrate that infection pressure is not sufficient by itself, but merely necessary, to drive Toxoplasma seroprevalence in intermediate host species. Where Toxoplasma seroprevalence in an intermediate host species is already low, further reducing infection pressure will not necessarily further decrease seroprevalence in those species. This has important ramifications for the mitigation of parasite infections and suggests that reductions in Toxoplasma infection pressure, intended to reduce infections, may be most effective and applicable to species that are known to experience high rates of infection.

Journal

The Journal of ParasitologyAllen Press

Published: Jul 16, 2021

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