The Effect of Trematode Infection on Amphibian Limb Development and Survivorship

Johnson, Pieter T. J.; Lunde, Kevin B.; Ritchie, Euan G.; Launer, Alan E.

doi:10.1126/science.284.5415.802

Cited by 312 publications

(330 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

304

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…These results hint that some of the effects ascribed to host diversity based on correlational studies may, in fact, be due to "hidden" changes in parasite diversity, emphasizing the importance of linking experimental and survey approaches to decompose the diversity-disease relationship. Given the clear link between Ribeiroia infection and amphibian mortality and malformations (15,24,25), observed changes in infection also have immediate relevance for host disease risk.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By linking previously collected field data on host richness from 345 wetlands in California with new information on the full macroparasite communities of 1,686 hosts, we tested the influence of amphibian host and parasite richness on realized transmission of the pathogenic trematode Ribeiroia ondatrae, which causes mortality and malformations in amphibians (24)(25)(26). However, because we expected host diversity, parasite diversity, and parasite load to correlate in the field owing to links between colonization and diversity, we used an experimental approach first in the laboratory and then in seminatural outdoor mesocosms to decouple the unique effects of each form of diversity on infection by Ribeiroia and the total parasite community.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Host and parasite diversity jointly control disease risk in complex communities

Johnson

Preston

Hoverman

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

132

136

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Host-parasite interactions are embedded within complex communities composed of multiple host species and a cryptic assemblage of other parasites. To date, however, surprisingly few studies have explored the joint effects of host and parasite richness on disease risk, despite growing interest in the diversity-disease relationship. Here, we combined field surveys and mechanistic experiments to test how transmission of the virulent trematode Ribeiroia ondatrae was affected by the diversity of both amphibian hosts and coinfecting parasites. Within natural wetlands, host and parasite species richness correlated positively, consistent with theoretical predictions. Among sites that supported Ribeiroia, however, host and parasite richness interacted to negatively affect Ribeiroia transmission between its snail and amphibian hosts, particularly in species-poor assemblages. In laboratory and outdoor experiments designed to decouple the relative contributions of host and parasite diversity, increases in host richness decreased Ribeiroia infection by 11-65%. Host richness also tended to decrease total infections by other parasite species (four of six instances), such that more diverse host assemblages exhibited ∼40% fewer infections overall. Importantly, parasite richness further reduced both per capita and total Ribeiroia infection by 15-20%, possibly owing to intrahost competition among coinfecting species. These findings provide evidence that parasitic and free-living diversity jointly regulate disease risk, help to resolve apparent contradictions in the diversity-disease relationship, and emphasize the challenges of integrating research on coinfection and host heterogeneity to develop a community ecology-based approach to infectious diseases. biodiversity | dilution effect | community assembly | amphibian decline | disease ecology

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Host and parasite diversity jointly control disease risk in complex communities

Johnson

Preston

Hoverman

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

132

136

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…of snails͞liter Ϯ 1 SE and prevalence of infection with Ribeiroia sp. : Site 1 ϭ 0.163 Ϯ 0.065, 42.4%; Site ϭ 0.114 Ϯ 0.074, 36.7%; Site 3 ϭ 0.231 Ϯ 0.034, 28.6%; Site 4 ϭ 0.234 Ϯ 0.045, 31.7%; Site 5 ϭ 0.211 Ϯ 0.87, 42.1%; Site 6 ϭ 0.173 Ϯ 0.013, 21.4%), which were infected with a trematode, Ribeiroia sp., previously shown to cause limb deformities (20). Three of the sites were in close proximity to agricultural fields, and all three had evidence of exposure to agricultural runoff (insecticides and herbicides; see below).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This concern stems in part from the recent increase of disease in human and wildlife populations linked with patterns of environmental change (15). Hypotheses proposed to explain the deformities fall into two broad camps: chemical contaminants (16,17) and trematode infection (18)(19)(20)(21). Although preliminary laboratory experiments suggest that infection by some species of trematode or exposure to certain contaminants can cause some deformities, there are often inconsistencies between observations of deformities occurring under natural conditions and those that result from laboratory manipulations (13).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Synergism between trematode infection and pesticide exposure: A link to amphibian limb deformities in nature?

Kiesecker

2002

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

378

348

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The apparently rapid increase in the prevalence of amphibian limb deformities has led to substantial interest from ecologists and public health professionals. Hypotheses proposed to explain the deformities fall into two broad categories: chemical contaminants and trematode infection. Although there are convincing experimental demonstrations that certain factors can lead to some deformities, the causes for recent increases in amphibian malformation remain controversial. Moreover, no experimental studies on amphibian deformities have been conducted in the field, and no studies have attempted to examine the synergistic effects of trematode infection and exposure to chemical contaminants. Here, I present the results of field and laboratory experiments that link increased trematode infection, and increased limb deformities, to pesticide exposure. Field experiments conclusively demonstrated that exposure to trematode infection was required for the development of limb deformities in wood frogs, Rana sylvatica. However, deformities were more common at sites adjacent to agricultural runoff. Laboratory experiments corroborated the association between pesticide exposure and increased infection with pesticide-mediated immunocompetency as the apparent mechanism. Given the conservative contaminant exposure levels used [Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standards] and the widespread use of many pesticides, these negative impacts may help to explain pathogen-mediated amphibian declines in many regions.

show abstract

“…Through their life cycle, they play important roles in freshwater and terrestrial habitats (Rowe et al 2001). Since most amphibians, particularly frog and toads species, are connected to both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, they may suffer from the direct and indirect effects of environmental pollution, such as habitat loss and fragmentation (Icochea et al 2002), ultraviolet radiation, toxic chemicals (Blaustein et al 2003), industrial and domestic chemical contamination (Mizgireuv et al 1984), and parasitic infection (Johnson et al 1999). The effects of contamination may result in shorter body length, lower body mass and malformations of limbs or other organs (Sparling et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the effects of urbanization on trace elements of toe bones

Simon

Puky

Braun

et al. 2011

Environ Monit Assess

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Amphibians, particularly frogs and toads, are increasingly used as bioindicators of contaminant accumulation in pollution studies. We developed an analytical technique to analyse their elemental contents based on a small amount of toe bone samples. This method is environment-friendly as, unlike traditional methods, it is not necessary to kill animals during sampling. Using this technique, we explored the effects of urbanization on the elemental contents of toe bones. Bufo bufo specimens were collected from an urban and two rural ponds. The ratios of Ca and P at the ponds were: 20.5% Ca and 14.6% P at the urban pond and 30.4% and 29.6% Ca, 22.4% and 21.7% P at the rural ponds, respectively. For the other elements, the following percentage ratios were found: 0.7% B, 0.3% Mg and 0.06% Zn at the urban pond and 1.1% and 0.4% B, 0.4% Mg and 0.05% Zn at the rural ponds, respectively. Canonical discriminant analysis indicated the separation of the urban and the rural ponds based on the elemental concentrations of toe bones. Significant differences were found between the concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, B and Zn at the urban and the rural ponds (p<0.05). Anthropogenic activity was found to have effects on the elemental contents of toe bones in the urbanized area. Our study also demonstrated that the developed method was appropriate for the elemental analysis of small samples to assess the effects of urbanization.

show abstract

The Effect of Trematode Infection on Amphibian Limb Development and Survivorship

Cited by 312 publications

References 15 publications

Host and parasite diversity jointly control disease risk in complex communities

Host and parasite diversity jointly control disease risk in complex communities

Synergism between trematode infection and pesticide exposure: A link to amphibian limb deformities in nature?

Assessment of the effects of urbanization on trace elements of toe bones

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About