Forest edges affect ectoparasite infestation patterns of small mammalian hosts in fragmented forests in Madagascar

Kiene, Frederik; Andriatsitohaina, Bertrand; Ramsay, Malcolm S.; Rakotondramanana, Herinjatovo; Rakotondravony, Romule; Radespiel, Ute; Strübe, Christina

doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.01.008

Cited by 15 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…In contrast, Junge et al (2011) suggested a higher susceptibility of Indri indri for ectoparasites in degraded habitats by focusing on the general health status of this large lemur species. Conversely, Kiene et al (2020) found significantly lower ectoparasite infestation rates in small mammalian hosts from smaller forest fragments and in proximity to the forest edge. While almost all ectoparasite types were affected, effects were particularly evident in temporary ectoparasites such as ticks and chigger mites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…Parasites are essential components of ecosystems and act as regulators of host population dynamics and community structure (Dunne et al, 2013;Lafferty et al, 2006Lafferty et al, , 2007Marcogliese, 2004;Mouritsen & Poulin, 2005;Thomas et al, 1999). Whereas ecological impacts of habitat fragmentation on ectoparasites (e.g., mites, ticks) can be expected given their more direct exposure to external abiotic conditions (Bush et al, 2013;Carbayo et al, 2019;Kiene et al, 2020), the response of endoparasites to habitat fragmentation is less intuitive. However, depending on their life cycle, endoparasites can be exposed to direct environmental influences as free-living stages or in intermediate hosts (Simões et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While almost all ectoparasite types were affected, effects were particularly evident in temporary ectoparasites such as ticks and chigger mites. The authors argued that ectoparasite survival and reproduction of temporary parasite stages in edge environments are most likely reduced by unfavorable abiotic environmental conditions at the forest edge compared with the forest interior (Kiene et al, 2020). Some studies investigated gastrointestinal parasite infections of Malagasy vertebrates in relation to habitat disturbance and degradation and again with different results: Rakotoniaina et al (2016) found no effect of habitat degradation on gastrointestinal parasites in gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus), while the study of Raharivololona and Ganzhorn (2009) suggested that effects differ between parasite species, but the investigation was based on very small sample size.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat fragmentation and vegetation structure impact gastrointestinal parasites of small mammalian hosts in Madagascar

Kiene

Andriatsitohaina

Ramsay

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Deleterious effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity have been demonstrated in numerous taxa. Although parasites represent a large part of worldwide biodiversity, they are mostly neglected in this context. We investigated the effects of various anthropogenic environmental changes on gastrointestinal parasite infections in four small mammal hosts inhabiting two landscapes of fragmented dry forest in northwestern Madagascar. Coproscopical examinations were performed on 1,418 fecal samples from 903 individuals of two mouse lemur species, Microcebus murinus ( n = 199) and M. ravelobensis ( n = 421), and two rodent species, the native Eliurus myoxinus ( n = 102) and the invasive Rattus rattus ( n = 181). Overall, sixteen parasite morphotypes were detected and significant prevalence differences between host species regarding the most common five parasites may be explained by parasite–host specificity or host behavior, diet, and socioecology. Ten host‐ and habitat‐related ecological variables were evaluated by generalized linear mixed modeling for significant impacts on the prevalence of the most abundant gastrointestinal parasites and on gastrointestinal parasite species richness (GPSR). Forest maturation affected homoxenous parasites (direct life cycle) by increasing Lemuricola , but decreasing Enterobiinae gen. sp. prevalence, while habitat fragmentation and vegetation clearance negatively affected the prevalence of parasites with heterogenic environment (i.e., Strongyloides spp.) or heteroxenous (indirect cycle with intermediate host) cycles, and consequently reduced GPSR. Forest edges and forest degradation likely change abiotic conditions which may reduce habitat suitability for soil‐transmitted helminths or required intermediate hosts. The fragility of complex parasite life cycles suggests understudied and potentially severe effects of decreasing habitat quality by fragmentation and degradation on hidden ecological networks that involve parasites. Since parasites can provide indispensable ecological services and ensure stability of ecosystems by modulating animal population dynamics and nutrient pathways, our study underlines the importance of habitat quality and integrity as key aspects of conservation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat fragmentation and vegetation structure impact gastrointestinal parasites of small mammalian hosts in Madagascar

Kiene

Andriatsitohaina

Ramsay

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Heterogeneity in parasite exposure and susceptibility to infection between hosts generate different levels of parasite aggregation among host samples (Poulin, 2013; Gourbière et al ., 2015). Many of the published studies on the interaction of ectoparasite and mammalian hosts have investigated the parasitic burden related to host and parasite traits or environmental characteristics (Perez-Orella and Schulte-Hostedde, 2005; Christe et al ., 2007; Brunner and Ostfeld, 2008; Presley and Willig, 2008; Várfalvyová et al ., 2011; Viljoen et al ., 2011; Fernandes et al ., 2012, 2015; Colombo et al ., 2015; Hammond et al ., 2019; Kiene et al ., 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission networks and ectoparasite mite burdens in Oecomys paricola (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

2020

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The host contact network structure results from the movement and behaviour of hosts (e.g. degree of sociability; vagility and greater or lesser fidelity of shelters), which can generate heterogeneity in the transmission of parasites and influence the parasitic burden of individual hosts. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that the burdens of Gigantolaelaps oudemansi mites are related to the characteristics of the transmission networks of individuals of Oecomys paricola, a solitary rodent. The study was carried out in a savannah habitat in north-eastern Brazil. In the dry season, the rodent network presented sub-groups of rodent individuals interacting with each other, whereas in the wet season, no modules were formed in the network. Mite burden was positively related to the number of connections that an individual host had with other host individuals in the dry season. The pairwise absolute difference between the mean mite burdens among individual rodents was negatively correlated with the similarities of node interactions. No relationships were observed during the wet season. There was a higher heterogeneity of mite burden among hosts in the dry season compare to that in the wet season. In solitary species, spatial organization may show seasonal variation, causing a change in the opportunities of host contacts, thereby influencing the transmission and dispersion of their ectoparasite burdens.

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“…Moreover, the host preference differed between life stages, with immature ticks typically being more generalist than their adult conspecifics (Nava and Guglielmone 2013, Espinaze et al 2015, Esser et al 2016. As a result, in disturbed habitats without the original faunal composition, ectoparasites may infest different hosts, especially the immature ticks (McCoy et al 2013, Esser et al 2019, Kiene et al 2020. Therefore, we hypothesize that the abandonment of rural property and withdrawal of livestock and domestic animals induced a new parasitic interaction between bats and A. sculptum by forcing the parasite to use different hosts.…”

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confidence: 99%

Bats used as hosts by Amblyomma sculptum (Acari: Ixodidae) in Northeastern Brazil and its implications on tick-borne diseases

Novaes¹,

Alves²,

Souza³

et al. 2020

Zoologia

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Amblyomma Koch, 1844 is distributed worldwide, with ca. 130 species currently recognized. These ticks are vectors of pathogens to animals and humans, including the causative agent of the New World Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Species of the Amblyomma parasitize a wide range of organisms, especially medium and large terrestrial mammals. Here we report for the first time the association of Myotis lavali Moratelli, Peracchi, Dias & Oliveira, 2011, Noctilio albiventris Desmarest, 1818 and Noctilio leporinus (Linnaeus, 1758) as hosts for Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888. The ticks were originally identified as Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787), in 2011. However, a later taxonomic review indicated that the species of the A. cajennense complex occurring in the Caatinga is A. sculptum. We also discuss the ecoepidemiological implications of this association.

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Forest edges affect ectoparasite infestation patterns of small mammalian hosts in fragmented forests in Madagascar

Cited by 15 publications

References 115 publications

Habitat fragmentation and vegetation structure impact gastrointestinal parasites of small mammalian hosts in Madagascar

Habitat fragmentation and vegetation structure impact gastrointestinal parasites of small mammalian hosts in Madagascar

Transmission networks and ectoparasite mite burdens in Oecomys paricola (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Bats used as hosts by Amblyomma sculptum (Acari: Ixodidae) in Northeastern Brazil and its implications on tick-borne diseases

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