Seasonal differences in parasite load in a short-lived lizard

IF 1 4区生物学 Q3 ZOOLOGY

Australian Journal of Zoology Pub Date : 2022-11-21 DOI:10.1071/ZO22039

Ko‐Huan Lee, M. Whiting, S. Leu

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT Parasite load can vary with seasonality, but this is rarely quantified. The garden skink (Lampropholis guichenoti) is host to multiple species of endoparasite. To measure seasonal effects of parasite transmission we established three captive groups of wild-caught individuals in which 2 of 16 individuals (12.5%) were initially infected with nematodes. We collected three faecal samples from each lizard, a sample at the beginning and at the end of the non-activity season and at the end of the following activity season. We measured parasite load (ascarid group) by counting parasite eggs per gram of faeces using a microscope. We found that parasite load was significantly higher in the activity season than in the non-activity season. The prevalence of parasites increased from 15.9% in the non-activity season to 72.5% in the activity season. The activity season is characterised by greater host activity and warmer ambient temperatures, which promote parasite egg survival in the environment as well as egg development. Taken together, this facilitates parasite transmission and could ultimately explain the higher parasite load during the activity season.

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短命蜥蜴体内寄生虫数量的季节性差异

寄生虫负荷可随季节变化，但很少量化。园皮虱(lamproolis guichenoti)是多种内寄生虫的宿主。为了测量寄生虫传播的季节性影响，我们建立了三组野外捕获的个体，其中16只个体中有2只(12.5%)最初感染了线虫。我们从每只蜥蜴身上收集了三份粪便样本，分别在非活动季节的开始和结束以及下一个活动季节结束时收集样本。我们通过使用显微镜计数每克粪便中的寄生虫卵来测量寄生虫负荷(蛔虫组)。结果表明，活动性季节的寄生虫载量明显高于非活动性季节。寄生虫流行率由非活季的15.9%上升至活季的72.5%。活动季节的特点是寄主活动更活跃，环境温度更高，这促进了寄生虫卵在环境中的存活和卵的发育。综上所述，这促进了寄生虫的传播，并最终可以解释在活动季节较高的寄生虫载量。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Australian Journal of Zoology 生物-动物学

CiteScore

2.40

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Australian Journal of Zoology is an international journal publishing contributions on evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology. The journal focuses on Australasian fauna but also includes high-quality research from any region that has broader practical or theoretical relevance or that demonstrates a conceptual advance to any aspect of zoology. Subject areas include, but are not limited to: anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, reproductive biology, developmental biology, parasitology, morphology, behaviour, ecology, zoogeography, systematics and evolution. Australian Journal of Zoology is a valuable resource for professional zoologists, research scientists, resource managers, environmental consultants, students and amateurs interested in any aspect of the scientific study of animals. Australian Journal of Zoology is published with the endorsement of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Australian Academy of Science.