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Competition between parasite species has been predicted to be an important force shaping parasite and host ecology and evolution, although empirical data are often lacking. Using the Mus musculus-Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma rodhaini host-parasite systems we characterized mate choice and inter-specific competition between these two schistosome species. Simultaneous infections revealed species-specific mate preferences for both species as well as suggesting mating competition, with male S. rodhaini appearing dominant over male S. mansoni. S. rodhaini homologous pairs were also shown to have increased reproduction per paired female in the presence of a competitor in simultaneous infections. Overall total reproductive success was, however, similar between the two species under conditions of direct competition due to the greater initial infectivity of S. mansoni in comparison to S. rodhaini. Inter-specific competition was also implicated as increased parasite virulence to the host. The potential effects of such interactions on parasite and host ecology and evolution in nature are discussed.

Original publication

DOI

10.1017/s0031182007004118

Type

Journal article

Journal

Parasitology

Publication Date

04/2008

Volume

135

Pages

473 - 484

Addresses

Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London W2 1PG, UK. alice.norton@imperial.ac.uk

Keywords

Liver, Spleen, Animals, Mice, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosomiasis mansoni, DNA, Helminth, DNA, Intergenic, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Virulence, Species Specificity, Reproduction, Female, Male, Host-Parasite Interactions