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Virulence determinants in a natural butterfly-parasite system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2006

J. C. de ROODE ,
L. R. GOLD  and
S. ALTIZER
J. C. de ROODE*
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
L. R. GOLD
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
S. ALTIZER
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Tel: +1 706 542 3485. E-mail: jaapderoode@hotmail.com
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Summary

Much evolutionary theory assumes that parasite virulence (i.e. parasite-induced host mortality) is determined by within-host parasite reproduction and by the specific parasite genotypes causing infection. However, many other factors could influence the level of virulence experienced by hosts. We studied the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha in its host, the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus. We exposed monarch larvae to wild-isolated parasites and assessed the effects of within-host replication and parasite genotype on host fitness measures, including pre-adult development time and adult weight and longevity. Per capita replication rates of parasites were high, and infection resulted in high parasite loads. Of all host fitness traits, adult longevity showed the clearest relationship with infection status, and decreased continuously with increasing parasite loads. Parasite genotypes differed in their virulence, and these differences were maintained across ecologically relevant variables, including inoculation dose, host sex and host age at infection. Thus, virulence appears to be a robust genetic parasite trait in this system. Although parasite loads and genotypes had strong effects on virulence, inoculation dose, host sex and age at infection were also important. These results have implications for virulence evolution and emphasize the need for a detailed understanding of specific host-parasite systems for addressing theory.

Keywords

virulence evolutionhost-pathogen interactioninfectious diseaseApicomplexaneogregarinehorizontal transmissionvertical transmission
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 134 , Issue 5 , May 2006 , pp. 657 - 668
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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