Body condition, sex and elevation in relation to mite parasitism in a high mountain gecko,Journal of Zoology

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Body condition, sex and elevation in relation to mite parasitism in a high mountain gecko
Journal of Zoology ( IF 1.9 ) Pub Date : 2019-11-25 , DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12751
M. Comas _{1,

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Affiliation

Parasitism is one of the main selective forces in nature, strongly affecting host fitness. Still, knowledge is incomplete concerning how variation in probability and intensity of infestation depends on body condition, sex or geographic variables. Here, I study the variation in probability and intensity of infestation of bloodsucking mites parasitizing the Atlas day gecko (Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus) depending on host body condition, sex and elevation, in the High Atlas (Morocco). Parasite prevalence was 58.75%, and probability of infection decreased with host body condition. However, parasitism intensity tended to increase with body condition. The parasite load ranged from 0 to 16 mites per individual, with a mean intensity of 3.0 ± 0.37 (se) in infested geckos. Prevalence was higher in males (2/3 parasitized) than in females (1/2 parasitized), but intensity did not significantly differ with sex. Neither prevalence nor intensity varied with elevation. In conclusion, geckos in better body condition harboured heavier parasite loads, but animals with the highest body condition were not infested. These findings suggest that animals with good body condition may tolerate heavier mite infestations, but only animals with the highest body condition may resist infestation.

中文翻译：

与高山壁虎螨寄生相关的身体状况，性别和海拔

寄生是自然界中的主要选择力之一，强烈影响宿主的适应能力。但是，关于感染的可能性和强度的变化如何取决于身体状况，性别或地理变量的知识还不完整。在这里，我研究了高海拔地图集（摩洛哥）中寄生于阿特拉斯日壁虎（Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus）的吸血螨侵袭的概率和强度的变化，具体取决于宿主的身体状况，性别和海拔。寄生虫患病率为58.75％，感染率随宿主状况而降低。然而，寄生虫的强度倾向于随身体状况而增加。每个人的寄生虫负荷为0至16螨，平均强度为3.0±0.37（se）在出没的壁虎中。男性（2/3被寄生）的患病率高于女性（1/2被寄生）的患病率，但强度随性别的变化不明显。患病率和强度均不随海拔升高而变化。总之，身体状况较好的壁虎具有较大的寄生虫负荷，但身体状况最高的动物并未受到感染。这些发现表明，身体状况良好的动物可以忍受螨虫的侵扰，但只有身体状况最高的动物才可以抵抗侵扰。

更新日期：2019-11-25

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