Host preference of an introduced 'generalist' parasite for a non-native host. Issue 11 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Frankel, Victor M.; Hendry, Andrew P.; Rolshausen, Gregor; Torchin, Mark E.
• Is Part Of: International journal for parasitology. Volume 45:Issue 11(2015)
• Page Start: 703
• Page End: 709
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Host–parasite interactions -- Biological invasions -- Host range -- Host preference -- Host specificity -- Introduced parasites -- Trematode -- Cichlid; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; Parasitology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 571.999
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.03.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7519

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Parasitism by an invasive trematode in four sympatric fish in Panama was investigated. Invasive peacock bass was more commonly infected than other cichlids in nature. Infection experiments were conducted to test infection compatibility and preference. Experiments demonstrate that the peacock bass is the preferred host among four cichlids. An invasive trematode demonstrates a host preference for a novel invasive fish host. Abstract: Parasites can invade new ecosystems if they are introduced with their native hosts or if they successfully infect and colonise new hosts upon arrival. Here, we ask to what extent an introduced parasite demonstrates specialisation among novel host species. Infection surveys across three field sites in Gatun Lake, Panama, revealed that the invasive peacock bass, Cichla monoculus, was more commonly infected by the introduced trematode parasite Centrocestus formosanus than were three other common cichlid fishes. Laboratory infection experiments were conducted to determine whether parasitism might be driven by differential encounter/exposure to parasites or by differential infection susceptibility/preference across different host species. These experiments were performed by controlling for parasite exposure in single host (compatibility) experiments and in mixed host (preference) experiments. In all cases, the peacock bass exhibited higher infection rates with viable metacercariae relative to the other potential fish hosts. Our experiments thus support that an introduced generalist parasite shows apparent specialisation on a specific novel host. Further studies are needed to determine whether these patterns of specialisation are the result of local adaptation following invasion by the parasite.