Parasites and invasions: changes in gastrointestinal helminth assemblages in invasive and native rodents in Senegal. Issue 13 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Diagne, Christophe; Ribas, Alexis; Charbonnel, Nathalie; Dalecky, Ambroise; Tatard, Caroline; Gauthier, Philippe; Haukisalmi, Voitto; Fossati-Gaschignard, Odile; Bâ, Khalilou; Kane, Mamadou; Niang, Youssoupha; Diallo, Mamoudou; Sow, Aliou; Piry, Sylvain; Sembène, Mbacké; Brouat, Carine
• Is Part Of: International journal for parasitology. Volume 46:Issue 13/14(2016)
• Page Start: 857
• Page End: 869
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Biological invasions -- Enemy release -- Spillback -- Spillover -- Gastrointestinal helminths -- Mus musculus domesticus -- Rattus rattus -- Parasite community structure; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; Parasitology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 571.999
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.07.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7519

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: An original design was used to test parasitism-invasion success relationships. Parasite reduction for invasive populations was at the front of their expansion range. There was no strong evidence of parasite "spillover" or "spillback" for native rodents. This work highlights the related need and opportunities for further experimental research. Abstract: Understanding why some exotic species become widespread and abundant in their colonised range is a fundamental issue that still needs to be addressed. Among many hypotheses, newly established host populations may benefit from a parasite loss ("enemy release" hypothesis) through impoverishment of their original parasite communities or reduced infection levels. Moreover, the fitness of competing native hosts may be negatively affected by the acquisition of exotic taxa from invaders ("parasite spillover") and/or by an increased transmission risk of native parasites due to their amplification by invaders ("parasite spillback"). We focused on gastrointestinal helminth communities to determine whether these predictions could explain the ongoing invasion success of the commensal house mouse ( Mus musculus domesticus ) and black rat ( Rattus rattus ), as well as the associated decrease in native Mastomys spp., in Senegal. For both invasive species, our results were consistent with the predictions of the enemy release hypothesis. A decrease in overall gastrointestinal helminth prevalence and infracommunity species richness was observed along the invasion gradients as well as lower specific prevalence/abundance ( Aspiculuris tetraptera in Mus musculus domesticus, Hymenolepis diminuta in Rattus rattus ) on the invasion fronts. Conversely, we did not find strong evidence of GIH spillover or spillback in invasion fronts, where native and invasive rodents co-occurred. Further experimental research is needed to determine whether and how the loss of gastrointestinal helminths and reduced infection levels along invasion routes may result in any advantageous effects on invader fitness and competitive advantage.