Causal mechanisms underlying host specificity in bat ectoparasites

Giorgi, Maud S.; Arlettaz, Raphaël; Guillaume, Frédéric; Nusslé, Sébastien; Ossola, C.; Vogel, Peter; Christe, Philippe

doi:10.1007/s00442-003-1475-1

Cited by 70 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Most studies on parasite distribution among hosts focused on a pattern either between host species (Christe et al 2003;Giorgi et al 2004;Krasnov et al 2003a) or within related offsprings (Christe et al 1998;Roulin et al 2003;Valera et al 2004). Studying parasite distribution at intermediate levels, as we did here, is important for understanding the population dynamics and evolution of host-parasite interactions (Giorgi et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age-biased parasitism and density-dependent distribution of fleas (Siphonaptera) on a desert rodent

2005

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Parasites often confront conflicting demands when evaluating and distributing themselves among host individuals, in order to attain maximum reproductive success. We tested two alternative hypotheses about host preference by fleas in relation to the age of their rodent host. The first hypothesis suggests that fleas select adult over juvenile rodents because the latter represent a better nutritional resource (the "well-fed host" hypothesis), whereas the second hypothesis suggests that fleas prefer the weaker and less resistant juveniles because they are easier to colonise and exploit ("poorly fed host" hypothesis). We sampled fleas (Synosternus cleopatrae) on the gerbil (Gerbillus andersoni) in 23 different plots in the Negev desert and found an unequal distribution of fleas between adult and juvenile hosts. Furthermore, flea distribution changed as a function of flea density-from juvenile-biased flea parasitism (the "poorly fed host" hypothesis) at low densities to adult-biased flea parasitism (the "well-fed host" hypothesis) at high densities. Other factors that influenced flea preference were soil temperature and the presence of ticks. These results suggest that host selection is not an explicit alternative choice between adults and juveniles ("well-fed host" versus "poorly fed host" hypotheses), but rather a continuum where the distribution between adults and juveniles depends on host, parasite, and environmentally related factors.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age-biased parasitism and density-dependent distribution of fleas (Siphonaptera) on a desert rodent

2005

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“…Host specificity is a common feature of many parasite taxa as selection tends to favour specialisation of parasites to their local environment (Klompen et al 1996;Giorgi et al 2004;Poulin 2007). Host specificity may be the result of adaptive constraints because adaptations that increase performance on one host may hinder survival or fecundity on others (Joshi and Thompson 1995;Kassen 2002;Dietrich et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host specificity of a bird-specialised endophilic ectoparasite, the tree-hole tick Ixodes arboricola

2014

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Host specialisation in parasites can be due to either limited exposure or limited adaptation to different host types. When the first barrier is lifted experimentally, the degree of adaptive specialisation can be studied. The tree-hole tick Ixodes arboricola is an endophilic parasite with a narrow host range, found in nest boxes used mainly by great and blue tits (Parus major, Cyanistes caeruleus) and to a lesser extent by pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) and nuthatches (Sitta europaea). In the current study, we exposed two nestlings per nestbox of pied flycatchers (N = 14), blue tits (N = 18), great tits (N = 14), and nuthatches (N = 16) to ten I. arboricola nymphs each. We found no differences in attachment success 2 days after infestation (56 ± 4% across species) nor were there any differences in tick engorgement weight (1.95 ± 0.03 mg across species), and moulting success was >90% for ticks from all bird species. Hence, our data suggest that all bird species investigated here are suitable host species. This may enhance the ticks' chances for persistence in cavities and dispersal among cavities inhabited by multiple host species, and supports the hypothesis that host use by ticks is limited by host ecology rather than by host specialisation.

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“…To test the promptness to suck blood after a period of starvation, when mortality exceeded 50% in each bug group, the box with one adult non-reproducing female M. myotis and a sample of the remaining bugs were placed together in a thermostat (30°C) for 20 min (cf. Giorgi et al 2004). After the feeding period, all bugs were removed from the box and collected from the bat.…”

Section: Equipment and Experimental Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival rate of bat bugs (Cimex pipistrelli, Heteroptera) under different microclimatic conditions

Bartonička

2010

Parasitol Res

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Survival of facultative ectoparasites, e.g. bed bugs (Cimex spp.), is more intensely affected by climatic factors, namely temperature, than that of permanent ectoparasites. The ontogenetic time of the bat bug (Cimex pipistrelli) in bat roosts is limited by different survival rates under different temperatures in particular nymphal stages. This limitation could affect bug densities and cause asynchrony between the ectoparasite and bat reproductive cycle. Therefore, bug survival under different temperatures was tested in the laboratory. Survival success was evaluated by three types of survival analyses: Kaplan-Meier estimation, the Cox proportional hazards model and Weibull parametric regression. The bugs survived for only a few hours at 45 degrees C; however, such a high temperature was never found in natural roosts. Different survival probability among different ontogenetic stages was found at the temperatures of 5-35 degrees C, and it was the highest in adult females and nymphs of fourth and fifth instar. Early instars first to third were found to be the most sensitive with the highest mortality of all stages studied and having their best survival at 5 degrees C. The hazard rate ratio of Weibull regression shows the low daily failure rate of 2.23-4.34% within the span of 5-35 degrees C. C. pipistrelli had the shorter life cycle and the better survival at higher temperature (35 degrees C) than C. lectularius. The ability of the former to survive high temperatures could be the consequence of its long-term coexistence with bats preferring crevice-like roosts or attics which become overheated during the summer months.

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Causal mechanisms underlying host specificity in bat ectoparasites

Cited by 70 publications

References 33 publications

Age-biased parasitism and density-dependent distribution of fleas (Siphonaptera) on a desert rodent

Age-biased parasitism and density-dependent distribution of fleas (Siphonaptera) on a desert rodent

Host specificity of a bird-specialised endophilic ectoparasite, the tree-hole tick Ixodes arboricola

Survival rate of bat bugs (Cimex pipistrelli, Heteroptera) under different microclimatic conditions

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