Processes leading to a spatial aggregation of Echinococcus multilocularis in its natural intermediate host Microtus arvalis
The small fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) shows a heterogeneous spatial distribution in the intermediate host (Microtus arvalis). To identify the ecological processes responsible for this heterogeneity, we developed a spatially explicit simulation model. The model combines individual-base...
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ftufz:oai:ufz.de:4152 2023-12-31T10:09:15+01:00 Processes leading to a spatial aggregation of Echinococcus multilocularis in its natural intermediate host Microtus arvalis Hansen, Frank Jeltsch, F. Tackmann, K. Staubach, C. Thulke, Hans-Hermann 2004 application/pdf https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=4152 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2003.10.003 en eng Elsevier International Journal for Parasitology 34 (1);; 37 - 44 https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=4152 https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2003.10.003 info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess ISSN: 0020-7519 info:eu-repo/semantics/article https://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text 2004 ftufz https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2003.10.003 2023-12-03T23:27:01Z The small fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) shows a heterogeneous spatial distribution in the intermediate host (Microtus arvalis). To identify the ecological processes responsible for this heterogeneity, we developed a spatially explicit simulation model. The model combines individual-based (foxes, Vulpes vulpes) and grid-based (voles) techniques to simulate the infections in both intermediate and definite host. If host populations are homogeneously mixed, the model reproduces field data for parasite prevalence only for a limited number of parameter combinations. As ecological parameters inevitably vary to a certain degree, we discarded the homogeneous mixing model as insufficient to gain insight into the ecology of the fox tapeworm cycle. We analysed five different model scenarios, each focussing on an ecological process that might be responsible for the heterogeneous spatial distribution of E. mulitlocularis in the intermediate host. Field studies revealed that the prevalence ratio between intermediate and definite host remains stable over a wide range of ecological conditions. Thus, by varying the parameters in simulation experiments, we used the robustness of the agreement between field data and model output as quality criterion for the five scenarios. Only one of the five scenarios was found to reproduce the prevalence ratio over a sufficient range of parameter combinations. In the accentuated scenario most tapeworm eggs die due to bad environmental conditions before they cause infections in the intermediate host. This scenario is supported by the known sensitivity of tapeworm eggs to high temperatures and dry conditions. The identified process is likely to lead to a heterogeneous availability of infective eggs and thus to a clumped distribution of infected intermediate hosts. In conclusion, areas with humid conditions and low temperatures must be pointed out as high risk areas for human exposure to E. multilocularis eggs as well. Article in Journal/Newspaper Microtus arvalis UFZ - Publication Index (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research) International Journal for Parasitology 34 1 37 44 |
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Open Polar |
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UFZ - Publication Index (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research) |
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ftufz |
language |
English |
description |
The small fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) shows a heterogeneous spatial distribution in the intermediate host (Microtus arvalis). To identify the ecological processes responsible for this heterogeneity, we developed a spatially explicit simulation model. The model combines individual-based (foxes, Vulpes vulpes) and grid-based (voles) techniques to simulate the infections in both intermediate and definite host. If host populations are homogeneously mixed, the model reproduces field data for parasite prevalence only for a limited number of parameter combinations. As ecological parameters inevitably vary to a certain degree, we discarded the homogeneous mixing model as insufficient to gain insight into the ecology of the fox tapeworm cycle. We analysed five different model scenarios, each focussing on an ecological process that might be responsible for the heterogeneous spatial distribution of E. mulitlocularis in the intermediate host. Field studies revealed that the prevalence ratio between intermediate and definite host remains stable over a wide range of ecological conditions. Thus, by varying the parameters in simulation experiments, we used the robustness of the agreement between field data and model output as quality criterion for the five scenarios. Only one of the five scenarios was found to reproduce the prevalence ratio over a sufficient range of parameter combinations. In the accentuated scenario most tapeworm eggs die due to bad environmental conditions before they cause infections in the intermediate host. This scenario is supported by the known sensitivity of tapeworm eggs to high temperatures and dry conditions. The identified process is likely to lead to a heterogeneous availability of infective eggs and thus to a clumped distribution of infected intermediate hosts. In conclusion, areas with humid conditions and low temperatures must be pointed out as high risk areas for human exposure to E. multilocularis eggs as well. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hansen, Frank Jeltsch, F. Tackmann, K. Staubach, C. Thulke, Hans-Hermann |
spellingShingle |
Hansen, Frank Jeltsch, F. Tackmann, K. Staubach, C. Thulke, Hans-Hermann Processes leading to a spatial aggregation of Echinococcus multilocularis in its natural intermediate host Microtus arvalis |
author_facet |
Hansen, Frank Jeltsch, F. Tackmann, K. Staubach, C. Thulke, Hans-Hermann |
author_sort |
Hansen, Frank |
title |
Processes leading to a spatial aggregation of Echinococcus multilocularis in its natural intermediate host Microtus arvalis |
title_short |
Processes leading to a spatial aggregation of Echinococcus multilocularis in its natural intermediate host Microtus arvalis |
title_full |
Processes leading to a spatial aggregation of Echinococcus multilocularis in its natural intermediate host Microtus arvalis |
title_fullStr |
Processes leading to a spatial aggregation of Echinococcus multilocularis in its natural intermediate host Microtus arvalis |
title_full_unstemmed |
Processes leading to a spatial aggregation of Echinococcus multilocularis in its natural intermediate host Microtus arvalis |
title_sort |
processes leading to a spatial aggregation of echinococcus multilocularis in its natural intermediate host microtus arvalis |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=4152 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2003.10.003 |
genre |
Microtus arvalis |
genre_facet |
Microtus arvalis |
op_source |
ISSN: 0020-7519 |
op_relation |
https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=4152 https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2003.10.003 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2003.10.003 |
container_title |
International Journal for Parasitology |
container_volume |
34 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
37 |
op_container_end_page |
44 |
_version_ |
1786842287689433088 |