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Implications of increased susceptibility to predation for managing the sylvatic cycle of Echinococcus multilocularis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2006

M. VERVAEKE ,
S. DAVIS ,
H. LEIRS  and
R. VERHAGEN
M. VERVAEKE
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Biology Group, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
S. DAVIS
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Biology Group, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
H. LEIRS
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Biology Group, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
R. VERHAGEN
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Biology Group, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
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Abstract

The ability to increase the chances that infectious prey are taken by predators is an observed feature of many parasites that rely on one or more predator-prey relationships to complete their life-cycle. In the sylvatic life-cycle of Echinococcus multilocularis – the causative agent of human alveolar echinococcosis – foxes are the final host, with voles acting as intermediate hosts. Here we review the evidence that E. multilocularis causes increased susceptibility to predation and present a general mathematical model for the sylvatic life-cycle. The ability to increase susceptibility to predation in the intermediate host reduces the sensitivity of the parasite population to adverse conditions. For example, there is no critical density of foxes below which the parasite is expected to die out, even if the effect of the parasite on infected prey is very small. We suggest that increased susceptibility to predation is a plausible explanation for the observed resilience of E. multilocularis during and following field trials of praziquantel baiting.

Keywords

Echinococcosismathematical modelwildlife managementpredator-prey relationship
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 132 , Issue 6 , June 2006 , pp. 893 - 901
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

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