Influence of geographical scale on the detection of density dependence in the host-parasite system, Arvicola terrestris and Taenia taeniaeformis

• Published in: Parasitology Vol. 132; no. 4; pp. 595 - 605
• Main Authors: DETER, J., BERTHIER, K., CHAVAL, Y., COSSON, J. F., MORAND, S., CHARBONNEL, N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.04.2006
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Arvicola terrestris; Arvicolinae - parasitology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - physiology; cestode; Comparative studies; cyclic demography; Demography; Density dependence; Female; France - epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models; geographical scale; host reproduction; Host-Parasite Interactions; Hypotheses; Invertebrates; Investigations; Life Sciences; Linear Models; Litter Size; Mathematical models; Nemathelminthia. Plathelmintha; Parasites; Population; Population Density; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Rodent Diseases - epidemiology; Rodent Diseases - parasitology; Rodents; Seasons; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Taenia; Taenia - physiology; Taenia taeniaeformis; Taeniasis - epidemiology; Taeniasis - parasitology; Taeniasis - veterinary; France; cestode; Arvicola terrestris; host reproduction; density-dependence; geographical scale; Taenia taeniaeformis; cyclic demography; Host parasite relation; Rodentia; Plathelmintha; Parasite; Host; Cestoda; Vertebrata; Reproduction; Mammalia; Taenia; Helmintha; Density dependence; Invertebrata; Detection; RELATION HOTE-PARASITE; GEOGRAPHICAL SCALE; HOST REPRODUCTION; CAMPAGNOL TERRESTRE; CYCLIC DEMOGRAPHY; DENSITY-DEPENDENCE; TAENIA TAENIAEFORMIS; CESTODE; BIOLOGIE DES POPULATIONS; DEMOGRAPHIE
• ISSN: 0031-1820; 1469-8161
• DOI: 10.1017/S0031182005009327

Infection by the cestode Taenia taeniaeformis was investigated within numerous cyclic populations of the fossorial water vole Arvicola terrestris sampled during 4 years in Franche-Comté (France). The relative influence of different rodent demographic parameters on the presence of this cestode was assessed by considering (1) the demographic phase of the cycle; (2) density at the local geographical scale (<0·1 km2); (3) mean density at a larger scale (>10 km2). The local scale corresponded to the rodent population (intermediate host), while the large scale corresponded to the definitive host population (wild and feral cats). General linear models based on analyses of 1804 voles revealed the importance of local density but also of year, rodent age, season and interactions between year and season and between age and season. Prevalence was significantly higher in low vole densities than during local outbreaks. By contrast, the large geographical scale density and the demographic phase had less influence on infection by the cestode. The potential impacts of the cestode on the fitness of the host were assessed and infection had no effect on the host body mass, litter size or sexual activity of voles.