Abstract
In its freshwater amphipod host Gammarus duebeni celticus, the microsporidian parasite Pleistophora mulleri showed 23% transmission efficiency when uninfected individuals were fed infected tissue, but 0% transmission by water-borne and coprophagous routes. Cannibalism between unparasitised and parasitised individuals was significantly in favour of the former (37% compared to 0%). In addition, cannibalism between parasitised individuals was significantly higher than between unparasitised individuals (27% compared to 0%). Thus, parasitised individuals were more likely to be cannibalised by both unparasitised and parasitised individuals. We discuss the conflicting selective forces within this host/parasite relationship, the implications of parasite mediated cannibalism for host population structure and the impacts this may have on the wider aquatic community.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 795-798 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | International Journal for Parasitology |
| Volume | 33(8) |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Jul 2003 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
