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Rodent malaria parasites suffer from the presence of conspecific clones in three-clone <e1>Plasmodium chabaudi</e1> infections
- Source :
- Parasitology; November 2003, Vol. 127 Issue: 5 p411-418, 8p
- Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- We studied infection dynamics of <e1>Plasmodium chabaudi</e1> in mice infected with 3 genetically distinct clones 1 less virulent than the other 2 either on their own or in mixtures. During the acute phase of infection, total numbers of asexual parasites in mixed-clone infections were equal to those produced by the 3 clones alone, suggesting strong in-host competition among clones. During the chronic phase of the infection, mixed-clone infections produced more asexual parasites than single-clone infections, suggesting lower levels of competition than during the acute phase, and indicating that a genetically diverse infection is harder to control by the host immune system. Transmission potential over the whole course of infection was lower from mixed-clone infections than from the average of the 3 single-clone infections. These results suggest that in-host competition reduces both growth rate and probability of transmission for individual parasite clones.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00311820 and 14698161
- Volume :
- 127
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Parasitology
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- ejs5376948