Impact of a Novel, Feminising Microsporidium on its Crustacean Host |
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Authors: | Rebecca S Terry Judith E Smith Alison M Dunn |
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Institution: | Department of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom. |
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Abstract: | We describe the transmission and pathogenic effects of a novel, feminising microsporidium, probably a Nasema species, on its crustacean host Gammarus duebeni. The parasite prevalence in the field was high (46% of females were infected) and the parasite was transovarially transmitted to 91% of embryos of infected females. The impact of the parasite on the host was assessed by means of a host breeding experiment. The parasite feminised 66% of infected host young and was transovarially transmitted by these individuals to the next host generation. The parasite differed from other feminising microsporidia in G. duebeni in that early embryos had a high parasite burden (288 parasites per embryo) and the infection was pathogenic, causing a reduction in both the growth rate of young hosts and in adult size. This study suggests that feminising microsporidia are a diverse group in which a variety of host/pathogen relationships have evolved. |
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Keywords: | feminisation Gammarus duebeni microsporidia Nosema transovarial transmission |
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