Parasitology

Table of Contents - September 2010 - Volume 137, Issue 10  

Research Article

Prior residency does not always pay off – co-infections in Daphnia

JENNIFER N. LOHRa1 c1, MINGBO YINa1 and JUSTYNA WOLINSKAa1

a1 Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Department Biologie II, Evolutionsökologie, Großhaderner Strasse 2, D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany

SUMMARY

The epidemiological and ecological processes which govern the success of multiple-species co-infections are as yet unresolved. Here we investigated prior versus late residency within hosts, meaning which parasite contacts the host first, to determine if the outcomes of intra-host competition are altered. We infected a single genotype of the waterflea Daphnia galeata with both the intestinal protozoan Caullerya mesnili and the haemolymph fungus Metschnikowia sp. (single genotype of each parasite species), as single infections, simultaneous co-infections and as sequential co-infections, with each parasite given 4 days prior residency. Simultaneous co-infections were significantly more virulent than both single infections and sequential co-infections, as measured by a decreased host life span and fecundity. Further, in addition to the Daphnia host, the parasites also suffered fitness decreases in simultaneous co-infections, as measured by spore production. The sequential co-infections, however, had mixed effects: C. mesnili benefited from prior residency, whereas Metschnikowia sp. experienced a decline in fitness. Our results show that multiple-species co-infections of Daphnia may be more virulent than single infections, and that prior residency does not always provide a competitive advantage.

(Received December 21 2009)

(Revised January 22 2010)

(Accepted January 30 2010)

(Online publication May 06 2010)

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Correspondence:

c1 Corresponding author, present address: University of Fribourg, Department of Biology, Unit of Ecology and Evolution, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland. Tel: +41 (0) 26 300 88 57. Fax: +41 (0) 26 300 96 98. E-mail: jennifer.lohr@unifr.ch

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