Mixed-host aggregations and helminth parasite sharing in an East African wildlife–livestock system

VanderWaal, Kimberly; Paul, George; Obanda, Vincent

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.07.015

Cited by 25 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…In our study system, vegetation structure is known to respond to grazing pressure, with dramatic results when ecological tipping points are reached [69], and changes in the patterns of MSG formation may here have important consequences which are not immediately obvious. Modifications of interspecific contact rates can also affect the persistence of transmissible diseases [70,71,72], and in savannah herbivores, the number of helminthic parasite species shared is known to depend on the propensity of host species to form MSGs [73].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using social network analysis of mixed-species groups in African savannah herbivores to assess how community structure responds to environmental change

Meise

Franks

Bro‐Jørgensen

2019

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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The dynamics of wildlife populations often depend heavily on interspecific interactions and understanding the underlying principles can be an important step in designing conservation strategies. Behavioural ecological studies can here provide useful insights into the structure and function of communities and their likely response to environmental changes. In this study of the Masai Mara herbivore community, we use a social network approach to investigate social affinities between species and how these change over the year in response to seasonal changes in ecological conditions. We find that even though social networks were correlated across different ecological conditions, for half the species dyads in the community, the strength of social affinities responded to changes in rainfall and/or the presence of migratory wildebeest. Several species consequentially adopted more or less central positions in the network depending on the ecological conditions. The findings point out interspecific social links that are likely to be attenuated or strengthened as a consequence of human-induced environmental changes and therefore call for particular attention from conservation managers. The eco-evolutionary ramifications of the perturbations of social affinities still require further study. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using social network analysis of mixed-species groups in African savannah herbivores to assess how community structure responds to environmental change

Meise

Franks

Bro‐Jørgensen

2019

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…To search for parasites in fecal samples, fecal pellets were crushed and homogenized within the sampling container using a pestle. Sedimentation techniques was performed according to Vanderwaal et al 2014 [22]. Briefly, we weighed 3 grams of the fecal sample and added 45 mL of tap water to the sample in a 50 mL centrifuge tube.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infection dynamics of gastrointestinal helminths in sympatric non-human primates, livestock and wild ruminants in Kenya

et al. 2019

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Background Gastrointestinal parasites are neglected infections, yet they cause significant burden to animal and human health globally. To date, most studies of gastrointestinal parasites focus on host-parasite systems that involve either a single parasite or a host species. However, when hosts share habitat and resources, they may also cross-transmit generalist gastrointestinal parasites. Here we explore multi-host-parasite interactions in a single ecosystem to understand the infection patterns, especially those linked to livestock-wildlife interfaces and zoonotic risk. Methods We used both coprological methods (flotation and sedimentation; N = 1,138 fecal samples) and molecular identification techniques (rDNA and mtDNA; N = 18 larvae) to identify gastrointestinal parasites in nine sympatric host species (cattle, sheep, goats, wildebeest, Grant’s gazelles, Thomson’s gazelles, impala, vervet monkeys and baboons) in the Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya. Results We found that the host community harbored a diverse community of gastrointestinal helminths, including 22 species and/or morphotypes that were heterogeneously distributed across the hosts. Six zoonotic gastrointestinal helminths were identified: Trichuris spp., Trichostrongylus colubriformis , Enterobius spp. Oesophagostomum bifurcum , Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides fuelleborni . The dominant parasite was Trichuris spp, whose ova occurred in two morphological types. Baboons were co-infected with Strongyloides fuelleborni and S . stercoralis . Conclusions We found that the interface zone shared by wild ungulates, livestock and non-human primates is rich in diversity of gastrointestinal helminths, of which some are extensively shared across the host species. Closely related host species were most likely to be infected by the same parasite species. Several parasites showed genetic sub-structuring according to either geography or host species. Of significance and contrary to expectation, we found that livestock had a higher parasite richness than wild bovids, which is a health risk for both conservation and livestock production. The zoonotic parasites are of public health risk, especially to pastoralist communities living in areas contiguous to wildlife areas. These results expand information on the epidemiology of these parasites and highlights potential zoonotic risk in East African savanna habitats.

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“…A method described by VanderWaal et al [23] with a slightly modified procedure was applied. Approximately 4 g of dung was weighed, mixed with 45 ml of tap water in a 50 ml centrifuge tube, and stirred until the mixture became a slurry.…”

Section: Coprological Analyses Sedimentation Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of helminth infection in Kenyan elephant populations

et al. 2020

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Background: The dynamics of helminth infection in African elephant populations are poorly known. We examined the effects of age, sex, social structure and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as primary drivers of infection patterns within and between elephant populations. Methods: Coprological methods were used to identify helminths and determine infection patterns in distinct elephant populations in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Tsavo East National Park, Amboseli National Park and Laikipia-Samburu Ecosystem. Gaussian finite mixture cluster analyses of egg dimensions were used to classify helminth eggs according to genera. Generalized linear models (GLM) and Chi-square analyses were used to test for variation in helminth infection patterns and to identify drivers in elephant populations. Results: Helminth prevalence varied significantly between the studied populations. Nematode prevalence (96.3%) was over twice as high as that of trematodes (39.1%) in elephants. Trematode prevalence but not nematode prevalence varied between populations. Although we found no associations between helminth infection and elephant social groups (male vs family groups), the median helminth egg output (eggs per gram, epg) did vary between social groups: family groups had significantly higher median epg than solitary males or males in bachelor groups. Young males in mixed sex family groups had lower epg than females when controlling for population and age; these differences, however, were not statistically significant. The average NDVI over a three-month period varied between study locations. Cluster analyses based on egg measurements revealed the presence of Protofasciola sp., Brumptia sp., Murshidia sp., Quilonia sp. and Mammomonogamus sp. GLM analyses showed that the mean epg was positively influenced by a three-month cumulative mean NDVI and by social group; female social groups had higher epg than male groups. GLM analyses also revealed that epg varied between elephant populations: Samburu-Laikipia elephants had a higher and Tsavo elephants a lower epg than Amboseli elephants. Conclusions: Elephants had infection patterns characterized by within-and between-population variation in prevalence and worm burden. Sociality and NDVI were the major drivers of epg but not of helminth prevalence. Gastrointestinal parasites can have a negative impact on the health of wild elephants, especially during resource scarcity. Thus, our results will be important when deciding intervention strategies.

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Mixed-host aggregations and helminth parasite sharing in an East African wildlife–livestock system

Cited by 25 publications

References 52 publications

Using social network analysis of mixed-species groups in African savannah herbivores to assess how community structure responds to environmental change

Using social network analysis of mixed-species groups in African savannah herbivores to assess how community structure responds to environmental change

Infection dynamics of gastrointestinal helminths in sympatric non-human primates, livestock and wild ruminants in Kenya

Patterns of helminth infection in Kenyan elephant populations

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