Contact-based transmission models in terrestrial gastropod populations infected with parasitic mites

Schüpbach, Hans U.; Baur, Bruno

doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.02.012

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Reduced winter survival has also been found in naturally infected individuals of A. arbustorum in 2 out of 3 populations (Schüpbach and Baur, 2008 a ). In experimentally infected A. arbustorum, mortality during hibernation was both influenced by the intensity of infection and family origin (Schüpbach and Baur, 2010 a ). Similarly, in the present study, host survival during the winter tended to be negatively affected by the intensity of infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The parasites move over the soft body of the snail and switch to the new host. Furthermore, R. limacum has been found to be successfully transmitted via soil without physical contact (Schüpbach and Baur, 2008 b ). Experiments showed that the blind mites use fresh mucus trails of snails to locate new hosts (Schüpbach and Baur, 2008 b ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We transferred 6 adult mites to the soft body of an uninfected snail using a small, moistened paintbrush. When the transmitted mites had entered the pulmonary cavity, we put the newly infected snail back into its beaker (Schüpbach and Baur, 2010 a ). Mite intensity of experimentally infected snails was in the range of infection intensities recorded in natural populations (0·3–8·0 mites/snail; Baur and Baur, 2005).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If the hibernation of the host is extremely long, then the host-parasite dynamics might be disturbed. So far, the influence of hibernation on the host-parasite dynamic has been poorly studied in invertebrates (Tyler and Jones, 1974; Callait and Gauthier, 2000; Moore, 2002; Schüpbach and Baur, 2010 a ). In land snails, hibernation is an overwintering strategy characterized by a reduction of feeding, locomotion and reproduction (Ansart et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Host survival during hibernation decreased with increasing parasite load and differed among families, but was not affected by snail size (Schüpbach and Baur, 2010 b ). The mites are transmitted through physical contact among the hosts (Baur and Baur, 2005), via mucus trails of the host snail or indirectly via soil (Schüpbach and Baur, 2008 b ). It is unknown, however, how long the parasites can survive in the soil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intensity of parasitic mite infection decreases with hibernation duration of the host snail

et al. 2012

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Temperature can be a limiting factor on parasite development. Riccardoella limacum, a haematophagous mite, lives in the mantle cavity of helicid land snails. The prevalence of infection by R. limacum in populations of the land snail Arianta arbustorum is highly variable (0-78%) in Switzerland. However, parasitic mites do not occur in host populations at altitudes of 1290 m or higher. It has been hypothesized that the host's hibernation period might be too long at high elevations for mites and their eggs to survive. To test this hypothesis, we experimentally infected snails and allowed them to hibernate at 4°C for periods of 4-7 months. Winter survival of host snails was negatively affected by R. limacum. The intensity of mite infection decreased with increasing hibernation duration. Another experiment with shorter recording intervals revealed that mites do not leave the host when it buries in the soil at the beginning of hibernation. The number of mites decreased after 24 days of hibernation, whereas the number of eggs attached to the lung tissue remained constant throughout hibernation. Thus, R. limacum survives the winter in the egg stage in the host. Low temperature at high altitudes may limit the occurrence of R. limacum.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intensity of parasitic mite infection decreases with hibernation duration of the host snail

et al. 2012

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Transmission of parasitic mites (Riccardoella oudemansi) between limacid slug hosts: the role of parasite and host behaviour

et al. 2023

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Transmission between hosts is crucial to the growth, development and reproduction of many parasites. As a consequence, parasites are under selection to maximise transmission success and exhibit many behavioural and morphological adaptations that allow detection of, and movement between, hosts. However, transmission success is not determined by parasites alone, but is also shaped by host behaviours. Often, host behaviours function to minimise the risk of exposure to parasites; in some cases, however, host behaviours may be manipulated by parasites to increase transmission success. In this study, we investigated transmission of the parasitic mite Riccardoella oudemansi between slug (Limacus maculatus) hosts, considering the role of both host and parasite behaviour in determining transmission success. Host-host transmission occurred when slugs were in physical contact, but mites were also capable of moving across the substrate to locate new hosts, a process facilitated by mucus trails. We found no strong evidence that slugs avoid parasitised conspecifics, or that mites manipulate slug behaviour to increase transmission. Finally, mites showed a preference for the mucus of parasitised slugs, but did not discriminate between mucus from their own host and another parasitised slug. A general preference for mucus from parasitised slugs is likely to be important in encouraging mites to remain in close contact with their host and may also facilitate host-switching and outbreeding. We encourage further study of parasitism by Riccardoella in limacid slugs, where cross-species variation in host social behaviour may drive differences in the rate and success of parasite transmission across slug species.

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Networks and the ecology of parasite transmission: A framework for wildlife parasitology

Godfrey

2013

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

117

123

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Contact-based transmission models in terrestrial gastropod populations infected with parasitic mites

Cited by 5 publications

References 42 publications

Intensity of parasitic mite infection decreases with hibernation duration of the host snail

Intensity of parasitic mite infection decreases with hibernation duration of the host snail

Transmission of parasitic mites (Riccardoella oudemansi) between limacid slug hosts: the role of parasite and host behaviour

Networks and the ecology of parasite transmission: A framework for wildlife parasitology

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