Within host populations the transmission and maintenance of parasite infections are not driven by the contribution of the whole number of infected individuals, but by the contribution of a restricted number of individuals. The host sex has been shown to have a great influence on parasite transmission generating in most host-parasite systems a male-bias in parasite loads. In addition, in some systems male hosts are responsible for the infection of the whole host population. The mechanisms generating sex differences in parasite infection may range from sexual variation in body mass, to hormonal profile and behaviour. All these characteristics are strongly expressed in the Alpine ibex. Moreover ibex present varying degrees of sexual segregation leading sexes to a different use of the space. This behaviour may have profound consequences on parasite transmission: as long as females avoid areas that are frequented by males they may have reduced parasite infection. In this work we investigated our hypothesis mechanistically using a mathematical model to explore whether a different use of space would result in sex-biased parasite infection. We developed an a priori deterministic model, which explores the dynamics of the interaction between male and female ibex with their abomasal parasites. We assumed that the infection rate between hosts and free-living infecting larvae depends on the percentage of spatial habitat overlap between the two sexes. Model simulations show that decreasing area of habitat overlap would lead to males increasing their parasite infection, while in females, intensity progressively decreases. Concomitantly, the host population size experiences a decrease of males coupled with an increase of females.

Consequences of sexual segregation of Alpine Ibex on parasite transmission / N. Ferrari, R. Rosà, P. Lanfranchi, K.E. Ruckstuhl. ((Intervento presentato al 21. convegno Meeting of the Alpine Ibex European Specialist Group (GSE-AIESG) tenutosi a Ceresole Reale, Torino nel 2008.

Consequences of sexual segregation of Alpine Ibex on parasite transmission

N. Ferrari
Primo
;
P. Lanfranchi
Penultimo
;
2008

Abstract

Within host populations the transmission and maintenance of parasite infections are not driven by the contribution of the whole number of infected individuals, but by the contribution of a restricted number of individuals. The host sex has been shown to have a great influence on parasite transmission generating in most host-parasite systems a male-bias in parasite loads. In addition, in some systems male hosts are responsible for the infection of the whole host population. The mechanisms generating sex differences in parasite infection may range from sexual variation in body mass, to hormonal profile and behaviour. All these characteristics are strongly expressed in the Alpine ibex. Moreover ibex present varying degrees of sexual segregation leading sexes to a different use of the space. This behaviour may have profound consequences on parasite transmission: as long as females avoid areas that are frequented by males they may have reduced parasite infection. In this work we investigated our hypothesis mechanistically using a mathematical model to explore whether a different use of space would result in sex-biased parasite infection. We developed an a priori deterministic model, which explores the dynamics of the interaction between male and female ibex with their abomasal parasites. We assumed that the infection rate between hosts and free-living infecting larvae depends on the percentage of spatial habitat overlap between the two sexes. Model simulations show that decreasing area of habitat overlap would lead to males increasing their parasite infection, while in females, intensity progressively decreases. Concomitantly, the host population size experiences a decrease of males coupled with an increase of females.
2008
Settore VET/06 - Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie degli Animali
Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso
Alparc
GSE
AIESG
Gruppo di lavoro Stambecco Europa
Alpine Ibex European Specialist Group
Consequences of sexual segregation of Alpine Ibex on parasite transmission / N. Ferrari, R. Rosà, P. Lanfranchi, K.E. Ruckstuhl. ((Intervento presentato al 21. convegno Meeting of the Alpine Ibex European Specialist Group (GSE-AIESG) tenutosi a Ceresole Reale, Torino nel 2008.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/61954
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