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Phylogenetic concordance analysis shows an emerging pathogen is novel and endemic.

Authors :
Storfer A
Alfaro ME
Ridenhour BJ
Jancovich JK
Mech SG
Parris MJ
Collins JP
Source :
Ecology letters [Ecol Lett] 2007 Nov; Vol. 10 (11), pp. 1075-83. Date of Electronic Publication: 2007 Sep 10.
Publication Year :
2007

Abstract

Distinguishing whether pathogens are novel or endemic is critical for controlling emerging infectious diseases, an increasing threat to wildlife and human health. To test the endemic vs. novel pathogen hypothesis, we present a unique analysis of intraspecific host-pathogen phylogenetic concordance of tiger salamanders and an emerging Ranavirus throughout Western North America. There is significant non-concordance of host and virus gene trees, suggesting pathogen novelty. However, non-concordance has likely resulted from virus introductions by human movement of infected salamanders. When human-associated viral introductions are excluded, host and virus gene trees are identical, strongly supporting coevolution and endemism. A laboratory experiment showed an introduced virus strain is significantly more virulent than endemic strains, likely due to artificial selection for high virulence. Thus, our analysis of intraspecific phylogenetic concordance revealed that human introduction of viruses is the mechanism underlying tree non-concordance and possibly disease emergence via artificial selection.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1461-0248
Volume :
10
Issue :
11
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Ecology letters
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
17850337
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01102.x