Digesting blood of an auxiliary host in fleas: effect of phylogenetic distance from a principal host

Journal of Animal Ecology

Pilosof

Fielden

et al. 2013

Self Cite

Summary 1.Theory predicts an adaptive trade-off between quantity and quality of offspring if mothers can reliably predict the offspring environment. 2. We studied egg production and quality of offspring in two flea species (host-specialist Parapulex chephrenis and host-generalist Xenopsylla ramesis) exploiting eight rodent species. We evaluated quality of new imagoes via their developmental time, size (length of a femur as a proxy) and resistance to starvation without a blood meal. 3. We predicted that the offspring quality would increase with (i) a decrease in the number of eggs produced by mothers and (ii) an increase in phylogenetic distance between maternal host and principal host of a flea. We also predicted that negative relationships between offspring quality and either maternal egg production effort or phylogenetic distance between maternal host and the principal host or both would be manifested stronger in host-opportunistic than in host-specific fleas. 4. The highest number of eggs produced per female flea was accompanied by the longest duration of development and the smallest offspring in X. ramesis, while P. chephrenis that hatched from larger clutches survived for less time under starvation. Although there was no significant effect of host species on any dependent variable, association between offspring quality and phylogenetic distance of the maternal host from the principal host of a flea was found in X. ramesis (but not P. chephrenis) with new imagoes being larger if their maternal hosts were phylogenetically distant from the principal host. 5. Our results demonstrated stronger trade-off between quantity and quality of offspring in a generalist than in a specialist flea, supporting the association between life-history plasticity and generalist feeding strategy.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Khokhlova et al . ,b,c). All fleas and rodents used in experiments were selected randomly from colonies.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A trade‐off between quantity and quality of offspring in haematophagous ectoparasites: the effect of the level of specialization

Journal of Animal Ecology

Pilosof

Fielden

et al. 2013

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“…In an attempt to find proximate mechanisms for the decrease in flea abundance in auxiliary hosts with an increase in phylogenetic distance from the principal hosts, Khokhlova et al . (,b) investigated feeding performance of two flea species ( Xenopsylla ramesis and Parapulex chephrenis ) when they exploited their principal hosts and auxiliary hosts with varying phylogenetic relatedness to the principal hosts. Feeding performance of fleas was measured by bloodmeal size and energy expenditure for blood digestion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ectoparasite fitness in auxiliary hosts: phylogenetic distance from a principal host matters

J of Evolutionary Biology

Fielden

Degen

et al. 2012

We studied reproductive performance in two flea species (Parapulex chephrenis and Xenopsylla ramesis) exploiting either a principal or one of eight auxiliary host species. We predicted that fleas would produce more eggs and adult offspring when exploiting (i) a principal host than an auxiliary host and (ii) an auxiliary host phylogenetically close to a principal host than an auxiliary host phylogenetically distant from a principal host. In both flea species, egg production per female after one feeding and production of new imago after a timed period of an uninterrupted stay on a host differed significantly between host species. In general, egg and/or new imago production in fleas feeding on an auxiliary host was lower than in fleas feeding on the principal host, except for the auxiliary host that was the closest relative of the principal host. When all auxiliary host species were considered, we did not find any significant relationship between either egg or new imago production in fleas exploiting an auxiliary host and phylogenetic distance between this host and the principal host. However, when the analyses were restricted to auxiliary hosts belonging to the same family as the principal host (Muridae), new imago production (for P. chephrenis) or both egg and new imago production (for X. ramesis) in an auxiliary host decreased significantly with an increase in phylogenetic distance between the auxiliary and principal host. Our results demonstrated that a parasite achieves higher fitness in auxiliary hosts that are either the most closely related to or the most distant from its principal host. This may affect host associations of a parasite invading new areas.

“…OE 1-1 experimentally infected jirds on day 75 postinoculation (see below). The procedure performed in this study ensured that fleas of a similar age were used in the experiments, as described elsewhere (21). Fleas fed on individual caged jirds that were restrained in a wire mesh tube (15-cm length and 5-cm diameter) to prevent self-grooming.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Variation in pool size reflected variability in feeding success on each jird. Carbon dioxide content (in ppm) of air exiting the respirometer chamber was sampled every 2 s for 30 min and measured with a CO 2 analyzer (model 6262; Li-Cor, Lincoln, NE) in conjunction with data acquisition software (ExpeData, Sable Systems, Henderson, NV), as previously described (21)(22)(23)(24). After 48 h, the fleas were placed again on the same jird as for the first bout, and a second CO 2 emission measurement was performed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Bartonella spp. on Flea Feeding and Reproductive Performance

Morick

Krasnov

et al. 2013

Appl Environ Microbiol

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dNumerous pathogens are transmitted from one host to another by hematophagous insect vectors. The interactions between a vector-borne organism and its vector vary in many ways, most of which are yet to be explored and identified. These interactions may play a role in the dynamics of the infection cycle. One way to evaluate these interactions is by studying the effects of the tested organism on the vector. In this study, we tested the effects of infection with Bartonella species on fitness-related variables of fleas by using Bartonella sp. strain OE 1-1, Xenopsylla ramesis fleas, and Meriones crassus jirds as a model system. Feeding parameters, including blood meal size and metabolic rate during digestion, as well as reproductive parameters, including fecundity, fertility, and life span, were compared between fleas experimentally infected with Bartonella and uninfected fleas. In addition, the developmental time, sex ratio, and body size of F 1 offspring fleas were compared between the two groups. Most tested parameters did not differ between infected and uninfected fleas. However, F 1 males produced by Bartonella-positive females were significantly smaller than F 1 males produced by Bartonella-negative female fleas. The findings in this study suggest that bartonellae are well adapted to their flea vectors, and by minimally affecting their fitness they have evolved to better spread themselves in the natural environment. N umerous pathogens are transmitted from one host to another by hematophagous insect vectors. The interactions between pathogens and their vectors vary in many ways, most of which are yet to be explored and identified. These interactions may play a role in the dynamics of the infection cycle. Some vector-borne organisms do not rely on mechanical passage but undergo a period of growth, development, and reproduction within their vector (1). Even when the transmission of a pathogen by a vector is purely mechanical, the interactions with the pathogen may cause alterations in the vector's fitness-related characteristics. Plant and animal pathogens that alter the fitness of their insect vectors have recently been reviewed (2). It has been shown that the agents of epidemic typhus (Rickettsia prowazekii), bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis), leishmaniasis (Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum), onchocerciasis (Onchocerca spp.), filariasis (Brugia spp. and Dirofilaria immitis), malaria (Plasmodium spp.), mosquito-borne encephalitides, and African swine fever reduce the survival or fecundity of their vectors (3-13). Plasmodium and Leishmania infections represent the most-studied examples of pathogens affecting feeding and reproductive performance of their vectors (1). It has been reported that infection with Plasmodium parasites results in altered vector feeding behavior, mainly by prolonging host contact (1). In another study, infection with L. major or L. infantum significantly decreased the mean number of eggs produced by female sand flies (5). A definite effect on vector viability was observed when Y. p...