<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Superparasitism is a common phenomenon in mosquito-parasitic mermithid nematodes. Multiple nematodes are needed in a single host to produce males. Host selection behavior and intraspecific competition among <italic>Romanomermis iyengari</italic> and <italic>Strelkovimermis spiculatus</italic> were investigated against their host, <italic>Culex pipiens pipiens</italic> in laboratory experiments. In a choice assay between previously infected and uninfected host larvae, infectious preparasites of both nematode species could distinguish not only between infected and uninfected hosts, but even between different parasite loads in showing a strong preference for uninfected hosts or hosts with a low parasite load. Host heart rate declined briefly immediately after parasitism. Superparasitism resulted in increased parasite mortality. Scramble competition within mosquito larvae for limited host nutrients, coupled with a skewed sex ratio favoring males, is assumed to lead to parasite population decline and subsequently toward host-parasite population equilibrium. The ability of mermithid preparasites to accurately assess parasite load likely plays an important role in host population dynamics and regulation.</p>
</abstract>

Superparasitism is a common phenomenon in mosquito-parasitic mermithid nematodes. Multiple nematodes are needed in a single host to produce males. Host selection behavior and intraspecific competition among Romanomermis iyengari and Strelkovimermis spiculatus were investigated against their host, Culex pipiens pipiens in laboratory experiments. In a choice assay between previously infected and uninfected host larvae, infectious preparasites of both nematode species could distinguish not only between infected and uninfected hosts, but even between different parasite loads in showing a strong preference for uninfected hosts or hosts with a low parasite load. Host heart rate declined briefly immediately after parasitism. Superparasitism resulted in increased parasite mortality. Scramble competition within mosquito larvae for limited host nutrients, coupled with a skewed sex ratio favoring males, is assumed to lead to parasite population decline and subsequently toward host-parasite population equilibrium. The ability of mermithid preparasites to accurately assess parasite load likely plays an important role in host population dynamics and regulation.

Superparasitism and Population Regulation of the Mosquito-Parasitic Mermithid Nematodes <italic>Romanomermis iyengari</italic> and <italic>Strelkovimermis spiculatus</italic>

Journal of Nematology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Superparasitism and Population Regulation of the Mosquito-Parasitic Mermithid Nematodes  and 

Superparasitism is a common phenomenon in mosquito-parasitic mermithid nematodes. Multiple nematodes are needed in a single host to produce males. Host...

Superparasitism and Population Regulation of the Mosquito-Parasitic Mermithid Nematodes Romanomermis iyengari and Strelkovimermis spiculatus

Publicado en línea: 05 dic 2017

Páginas: 168 - 176

Recibido: 10 abr 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2017-078

Palabras clave
heart rate, host selection, population regulation, superparasitism.

© 2017 Manar Sanad et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Superparasitism and Population Regulation of the Mosquito-Parasitic Mermithid Nematodes Romanomermis iyengari and Strelkovimermis spiculatus

Publicado en línea: 05 dic 2017

Páginas: 168 - 176

Recibido: 10 abr 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2017-078

Palabras claveheart rate, host selection, population regulation, superparasitism.

© 2017 Manar Sanad et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
heart rate, host selection, population regulation, superparasitism.