Influence of life history traits on the population genetic structure of parasitic helminths: a minireview.

Florencio M Ubeira,Esperanza Paniagua,Severo Vazquez-Prieto,Roman Vilas

doi:10.14411/fp.2015.060

Florencio M Ubeira, Esperanza Paniagua + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14411/fp.2015.060

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Abstract

Parasite life history traits influence the rate of gene flow between populations and the effective population size, both of which determine the levels of genetic variability and the geographic distribution of such variability. In this short review targeted to parasitologists, we summarise how life history traits influence the population genetic structure of parasitic helminths. These organisms are characterised by a wide variety of life cycles and are ecologically different from microparasites, which have been studied in more detail. In order to provide the reader a concise review that illustrates key aspects of the subject matter, we have limited ourselves to studying examples selected for their clarity and relevance.

Highlights

Parasite life history traits, such as the mode of reproduction, host specificity and transmission mode, may have decisive effects on the rate of gene flow between populations and on the effective population size (Ne), thereby determining the genetic structure of parasite populations
We will not attempt to provide a comprehensive overview here, but rather to make available to parasitologists a short review that highlights some key issues in parasitic helminths, a group of organisms that have varied and complex life cycles and that are ecologically different from microparasites
We summarise how a set of life history traits affects the genetic structure of parasitic helminth populations

Summary

Introduction

Parasite life history traits, such as the mode of reproduction, host specificity and transmission mode, may have decisive effects on the rate of gene flow between populations and on the effective population size (Ne), thereby determining the genetic structure of parasite populations. The presence of long-lived stages in the parasite life cycle is another important factor that may influence the population genetic structure because it favours the mix of different generations.

Results

Conclusion