Immune response to sympatric and allopatric parasites in a snail-trematode interaction

Erik E Osnas¹^,2 and Curtis M Lively¹

¹Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA

²Department of Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, 209 Russell Labs, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA

author email corresponding author email

Frontiers in Zoology 2005, 2:8doi:10.1186/1742-9994-2-8


Published:	31 May 2005

Abstract

Background

The outcome of parasite exposure depends on the (1) genetic specificity of the interaction, (2) induction of host defenses, and (3) parasite counter defenses. We studied both the genetic specificity for infection and the specificity for the host-defense response in a snail-trematode interaction (Potamopyrgus antipodarum-Microphallus sp.) by conducting a reciprocal cross-infection experiment between two populations of host and parasite.

Results

We found that infection was greater in sympatric host-parasite combinations. We also found that the host-defense response (hemocyte concentration) was induced by parasite exposure, but the response did not increase with increased parasite dose nor did it depend on parasite source, host source, or host-parasite combination.

Conclusion

The results are consistent with a genetically specific host-parasite interaction, but inconsistent with a general arms-race type interaction where allocation to defense is the main determinant of host resistance.