Costs of bot fly infection in white-footed mice: energy and mass flow

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. Munger ◽  
William H. Karasov

We quantified the impact of bot fly larvae (Cuterebra fontinella) on the energy budget of their small-mammal hosts (white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus). We estimated the fluxes of water from the host to the parasite and from the parasite to the host by injecting infected hosts (or bot fly larvae) with tritiated water and measuring the uptake by the parasite (or the host). Using these fluxes, we then constructed a fluid flux budget for the host–parasite system, and estimated that a bot fly larva receives ca. 1% of the host's nutrient budget. We also found a 5% increase in the metabolic rate of infected hosts in the laboratory, but no such effect in the field. No effect of bot fly larvae on digestive efficiency or food consumption was detected; however, infected mice lost body mass during a field trial. We conclude that bot fly larvae have a relatively modest effect, although energetically stressed individuals, such as lactating females, could suffer substantially.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6074
Author(s):  
Esther Khayanga Sumbule ◽  
Mary Kivali Ambula ◽  
Isaac Maina Osuga ◽  
Janice Ghemoh Changeh ◽  
David Miano Mwangi ◽  
...  

The acceptance of eco-friendly black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) as sustainable alternative protein ingredient in poultry feeds continues to gain momentum worldwide. This study evaluates the impact of BSFLM in layer chick and grower diets on the growth, carcass quality and economic returns. Mean weekly weight gain and total live weight per chick and grower varied significantly. The highest final weight gain was achieved when birds were provided diet with 25.6% BSFLM. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily weight gain (ADG) and overall weight gain of the chick varied significantly, except for the feed conversion ratio (FCR). For grower birds, ADFI, ADG, FCR and overall weight gain did not vary significantly across the various feeding regimes. The weight of the wings and drumsticks had a quadratic response with a maximum weight obtained at 33% inclusion of BSFLM. The weight of the internal organs were not significantly affected by dietary types. Positive cost–benefit ratio and return on investment was recorded for diet types with higher BSFLM inclusion levels (>75%). Diets with 25% and 100% BSFLM inclusion were the most suitable and cost-effective, respectively. Thus, BSFLM represents a promising alternative source of protein that could be sustainably used in the poultry industries.


2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M Gordon ◽  
Catherine A Reardon ◽  
Godfrey S Getz ◽  
W S Davidson

High density lipoproteins (HDL) are a highly heterogeneous population of particles composed of various lipids and proteins. They have been demonstrated to possess a diverse variety of functional properties which are thought to contribute to protection against cardiovascular disease (CVD). Proteomics studies have identified up to 75 different proteins which can associate with HDL. The basis for the compositional diversity of HDL is not known but a better understanding will yield important information about its broad functional diversity. To investigate the impact of common HDL apolipoproteins on the distribution of other apolipoproteins, we have begun to systematically fractionate plasma from various HDL apolipoprotein KO mice. Plasma from apoA-I, apoA-IV and apoA-II global KO mice was applied to gel filtration chromatography to distinguish HDL size populations. HDL particles sequestered by a phospholipid binding resin were proteomically analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. By comparing elution volume shifts (i.e. particle size variations) for each HDL protein between WT controls and the KO models, we assessed the impact of the deleted protein on HDL size distributions. Ablation of apoA-I, while decreasing total HDL phospholipid by 70%, had a surprisingly small impact on the distribution of the majority of other HDL associated proteins - affecting only 9 of them. Genetic apoA-IV ablation had a similar modest effect shifting a distinct subset of 9 proteins. However, loss of apoA-II, in addition to causing a similar 70% reduction in overall HDL phospholipids, affected the size distribution of some 45 HDL proteins (including several complement proteins and paraoxonase-1). These data suggest that apoA-I, while associated with the majority of HDL phospholipid, may actually interact with relatively few of the lower abundance proteins known to be associated with HDL. ApoA-II on the other hand, may interact with many of these, perhaps acting as a docking site or adaptor molecule.


Parasitology ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 99 (S1) ◽  
pp. S59-S79 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Anderson ◽  
R. M. May ◽  
S. Gupta

SUMMARYThe paper examines non-linear dynamical phenomena in host—parasite interactions by reference to a series of different problems ranging from the impact on transmission of control measures based on vaccination and chemotherapy, to the effects of immunological responses targeted at different stages in a parasite's life-cycle. Throughout, simple mathematical models are employed to aid in interpretation. Analyses reveal that the influence of a defined control measure on the prevalence or intensity of infection, whether vaccination or drug treatment, is non-linearly related to the magnitude of control effort (as defined by the proportion of individuals vaccinated or treated with a drug). Consideration of the relative merits of gametocyte and sporozoite vaccines against malarial parasites suggests that very high levels of cohort immunization will be required to block transmission in endemic areas, with the former type of vaccine being more effective in reducing transmission for a defined level of coverage and the latter being better with respect to a reduction in morbidity. The inclusion of genetic elements in analyses of the transmission of helminth parasites reveals complex non-linear patterns of change in the abundance of different parasite genotypes under selection pressures imposed by either the host immunological defences or the application of chemotherapeutic agents. When resistance genes are present in parasite populations, the degree to which abundance can be suppressed by chemotherapy depends critically on the frequency and intensity of application, with intermediate values of the former being optimal. A more detailed consideration of the impact of immunological defences on parasite population growth within an individual host, by reference to the erythrocytic cycle of malaria, suggests that the effectiveness of a given immunological response is inversely related to the life-expectancy of the target stage in the parasite's developmental cycle.


3 Biotech ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujay Paul ◽  
Luis M. Ruiz-Manriquez ◽  
Francisco I. Serrano-Cano ◽  
Carolina Estrada-Meza ◽  
Karla A. Solorio-Diaz ◽  
...  

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small noncoding RNA molecules with significant capacity to regulate the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in a sequence-specific manner either through translation repression or mRNA degradation triggering a fine-tuning biological impact. They have been implicated in several processes, including cell growth and development, signal transduction, cell proliferation and differentiation, metabolism, apoptosis, inflammation, and immune response modulation. However, over the last few years, extensive studies have shown the relevance of miRNAs in human pathophysiology. Common human parasitic diseases, such as Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Amoebiasis, Chagas disease, Schistosomiasis, Toxoplasmosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Clonorchiasis, and Echinococcosis are the leading cause of death worldwide. Thus, identifying and characterizing parasite-specific miRNAs and their host targets, as well as host-related miRNAs, are important for a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of parasite-specific diseases at the molecular level. In this review, we have demonstrated the impact of human microRNAs during host−parasite interaction as well as their potential to be used for diagnosis and prognosis purposes.


2005 ◽  
Vol 272 (1581) ◽  
pp. 2571-2576 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.J Kutz ◽  
E.P Hoberg ◽  
L Polley ◽  
E.J Jenkins

Global climate change is altering the ecology of infectious agents and driving the emergence of disease in people, domestic animals, and wildlife. We present a novel, empirically based, predictive model for the impact of climate warming on development rates and availability of an important parasitic nematode of muskoxen in the Canadian Arctic, a region that is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Using this model, we show that warming in the Arctic may have already radically altered the transmission dynamics of this parasite, escalating infection pressure for muskoxen, and that this trend is expected to continue. This work establishes a foundation for understanding responses to climate change of other host–parasite systems, in the Arctic and globally.


2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1743) ◽  
pp. 3742-3748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Z. Quigley ◽  
Diana García López ◽  
Angus Buckling ◽  
Alan J. McKane ◽  
Sam P. Brown

Antagonistic coevolution between hosts and parasites can have a major impact on host population structures, and hence on the evolution of social traits. Using stochastic modelling techniques in the context of bacteria–virus interactions, we investigate the impact of coevolution across a continuum of host–parasite genetic specificity (specifically, where genotypes have the same infectivity/resistance ranges (matching alleles, MA) to highly variable ranges (gene-for-gene, GFG)) on population genetic structure, and on the social behaviour of the host. We find that host cooperation is more likely to be maintained towards the MA end of the continuum, as the more frequent bottlenecks associated with an MA-like interaction can prevent defector invasion, and can even allow migrant cooperators to invade populations of defectors.


1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
SC Nicol

Water turnover rates of Tasmania devils, Sarcophilus harrisii, were measured under standardized conditions by use of tritiated water. Total body water of lactating females was lower than in non- lactating animals, while water turnover rates per kilogram were not significantly different, due to a higher rate constant for lactating animals. Mean water turnover rates were considerably higher than predicted from other marsupial studies. Statistical analysis of data from 13 species of marsupial and 27 eutherian species showed habitat to have a far greater effect on standard water turnover rate than phylogeny.


2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. 913-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.T. Eberhardt ◽  
P.M. Beldomenico ◽  
L.D. Monje ◽  
A.L. Racca

Parasites can be detrimental to the health of wildlife populations and may negatively affect several aspects of the life history of their hosts. Investigating host health, therefore, is key to understanding important mechanisms of the host–parasite interaction at the individual and population levels. Recently, we reported a prevalence of 10% of Trypanosoma evansi Steel, 1884 in a population of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (L., 1766)) from Esteros del Iberá, Argentina; however, the impact of T. evansi infection on capybaras is unknown. The aim of this study was to explore associations between T. evansi infection and biochemical and physiological parameters in wild capybaras using blood samples (n = 60) from a managed population of free-ranging capybaras from Esteros del Iberá. Infection by T. evansi was negatively associated with body condition, albumin, alpha-2 globulin concentrations, albumin/globulin ratio, and eosinophil counts, and it was positively associated with spleen index and gamma-globulin concentrations. These results suggest that T. evansi infection may pose a significant impact on the health of wild capybaras.


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