Parasite co-infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of East African zebu cattle under one year

The co-occurrence of different pathogen species and their simultaneous infection of hosts are common, and may affect host health outcomes. Co-infecting pathogens may interact synergistically (harming the host more) or antagonistically (harming the host less) compared with single infections. Here we...

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Main Authors: Thumbi, Samuel M., Bronsvoort, B.M. de C., Poole, Elizabeth J., Kiara, Henry K., Toye, Philip G., Ndila, M., Conradie, I., Jennings, A., Handel, Ian G., Coetzer, Jacobus A.W., Hanotte, Olivier H., Woolhouse, Mark E.J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Cambridge University Press 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33986
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author Thumbi, Samuel M.
Bronsvoort, B.M. de C.
Poole, Elizabeth J.
Kiara, Henry K.
Toye, Philip G.
Ndila, M.
Conradie, I.
Jennings, A.
Handel, Ian G.
Coetzer, Jacobus A.W.
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Woolhouse, Mark E.J.
author_browse Bronsvoort, B.M. de C.
Coetzer, Jacobus A.W.
Conradie, I.
Handel, Ian G.
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Jennings, A.
Kiara, Henry K.
Ndila, M.
Poole, Elizabeth J.
Thumbi, Samuel M.
Toye, Philip G.
Woolhouse, Mark E.J.
author_facet Thumbi, Samuel M.
Bronsvoort, B.M. de C.
Poole, Elizabeth J.
Kiara, Henry K.
Toye, Philip G.
Ndila, M.
Conradie, I.
Jennings, A.
Handel, Ian G.
Coetzer, Jacobus A.W.
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Woolhouse, Mark E.J.
author_sort Thumbi, Samuel M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The co-occurrence of different pathogen species and their simultaneous infection of hosts are common, and may affect host health outcomes. Co-infecting pathogens may interact synergistically (harming the host more) or antagonistically (harming the host less) compared with single infections. Here we have tested associations of infections and their co-infections with variation in growth rate using a subset of 455 animals of the Infectious Diseases of East Africa Livestock (IDEAL) cohort study surviving to one year. Data on live body weight, infections with helminth parasites and haemoparasites were collected every 5 weeks during the first year of life. Growth of zebu cattle during the first year of life was best described by a linear growth function. A large variation in daily weight gain with a range of 0·03–0·34 kg, and a mean of 0·135 kg (0·124, 0·146; 95% CI) was observed. After controlling for other significant covariates in mixed effects statistical models, the results revealed synergistic interactions (lower growth rates) withTheileria parvaandAnaplasma marginaleco-infections, and antagonistic interactions (relatively higher growth rates) withT. parvaandTheileria mutansco-infections, compared with infections withT. parvaonly. Additionally, helminth infections can have a strong negative effect on the growth rates but this is burden-dependent, accounting for up to 30% decrease in growth rate in heavily infected animals. These findings present evidence of pathogen–pathogen interactions affecting host growth, and we discuss possible mechanisms that may explain observed directions of interactions as well as possible modifications to disease control strategies when co-infections are present.
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spelling CGSpace339862024-05-01T08:18:25Z Parasite co-infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of East African zebu cattle under one year Thumbi, Samuel M. Bronsvoort, B.M. de C. Poole, Elizabeth J. Kiara, Henry K. Toye, Philip G. Ndila, M. Conradie, I. Jennings, A. Handel, Ian G. Coetzer, Jacobus A.W. Hanotte, Olivier H. Woolhouse, Mark E.J. parasites zebu cattle The co-occurrence of different pathogen species and their simultaneous infection of hosts are common, and may affect host health outcomes. Co-infecting pathogens may interact synergistically (harming the host more) or antagonistically (harming the host less) compared with single infections. Here we have tested associations of infections and their co-infections with variation in growth rate using a subset of 455 animals of the Infectious Diseases of East Africa Livestock (IDEAL) cohort study surviving to one year. Data on live body weight, infections with helminth parasites and haemoparasites were collected every 5 weeks during the first year of life. Growth of zebu cattle during the first year of life was best described by a linear growth function. A large variation in daily weight gain with a range of 0·03–0·34 kg, and a mean of 0·135 kg (0·124, 0·146; 95% CI) was observed. After controlling for other significant covariates in mixed effects statistical models, the results revealed synergistic interactions (lower growth rates) withTheileria parvaandAnaplasma marginaleco-infections, and antagonistic interactions (relatively higher growth rates) withT. parvaandTheileria mutansco-infections, compared with infections withT. parvaonly. Additionally, helminth infections can have a strong negative effect on the growth rates but this is burden-dependent, accounting for up to 30% decrease in growth rate in heavily infected animals. These findings present evidence of pathogen–pathogen interactions affecting host growth, and we discuss possible mechanisms that may explain observed directions of interactions as well as possible modifications to disease control strategies when co-infections are present. 2013-12 2013-11-08T09:52:53Z 2013-11-08T09:52:53Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33986 en Open Access Cambridge University Press Thumbi, S.M., Bronsvoort, B.M., Poole, E.J., Kiara, H., Toye, P., Ndila, M., Conradie, I., Jennings, A., Handel, I.G., Coetzer, J.A., Hanotte, O. and Woolhouse, M.E. 2013. Parasite co-infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of East African zebu cattle under one year. Parasitology 4: 1-10.
spellingShingle parasites
zebu cattle
Thumbi, Samuel M.
Bronsvoort, B.M. de C.
Poole, Elizabeth J.
Kiara, Henry K.
Toye, Philip G.
Ndila, M.
Conradie, I.
Jennings, A.
Handel, Ian G.
Coetzer, Jacobus A.W.
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Woolhouse, Mark E.J.
Parasite co-infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of East African zebu cattle under one year
title Parasite co-infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of East African zebu cattle under one year
title_full Parasite co-infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of East African zebu cattle under one year
title_fullStr Parasite co-infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of East African zebu cattle under one year
title_full_unstemmed Parasite co-infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of East African zebu cattle under one year
title_short Parasite co-infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of East African zebu cattle under one year
title_sort parasite co infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of east african zebu cattle under one year
topic parasites
zebu cattle
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33986
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