The evolution of covert, silent infection as a parasite strategy

Sorrell, Ian; White, Andrew; Pedersen, Amy B.; Hails, Rosemary S.; Boots, Mike. 2009 The evolution of covert, silent infection as a parasite strategy. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B. Biological Sciences, 276 (1665). 2217-2226. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2008.1915

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract/Summary

Many parasites and pathogens cause silent/covert infections in addition to the more obvious infectious disease-causing pathology. Here, we consider how assumptions concerning superinfection, protection and seasonal host birth and transmission rates affect the evolution of such covert infections as a parasite strategy. Regardless of whether there is vertical infection or effects on sterility, overt infection is always disadvantageous in relatively constant host populations unless it provides protection from superinfection. If covert infections are protective, all individuals will enter the covert stage if there is enough vertical transmission, and revert to overt infections after a ‘latent’ period (susceptible, exposed, infected epidemiology). Seasonal variation in transmission rates selects for non-protective covert infections in relatively long-lived hosts with low birth rates typical of many mammals. Variable host population density caused by seasonal birth rates may also select for covert transmission, but in this case it is most likely in short-lived fecund hosts. The covert infections of some insects may therefore be explained by their outbreak population dynamics. However, our models consistently predict proportions of covert infection, which are lower than some of those observed in nature. Higher proportions of covert infection may occur if there is a direct link between covert infection and overt transmission success, the covert infection is protective or the covert state is the result of suppression by the host. Relatively low proportions of covert transmission may, however, be explained as a parasite strategy when transmission opportunities vary.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2008.1915
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hails
Additional Keywords:	covert, latent, evolution, disease, model, vertical transmission
NORA Subject Terms:	Biology and Microbiology
Date made live:	06 Oct 2009 08:47 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/7804

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...