Seville R S, Harlow H J, Stanton N L, Wagner M L
Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie 82071.
J Parasitol. 1992 Oct;78(5):881-5.
Effects of infection with mixed species of Eimeria (E. callospermophili, E. morainensis, and E. beecheyi) on the digestive physiology of Wyoming ground squirrels (Spermophilus elegans) are described. Infected and uninfected squirrels were administered arginine and methionine in saturated glucose solution. Blood was drawn at time 0 and 30 min postadministration. Significant differences were not found between infected and uninfected squirrels in plasma glucose, arginine, or methionine assimilation. In a second experiment, infected and uninfected squirrels were fed a food slurry of known caloric value. All feces were collected for 24 hr postfeeding. Differences were not detected in fecal caloric content or digestive efficiency. These results in conjunction with results reported in the literature suggest a reassessment of the "parasitic" nature of these squirrel symbionts. We propose that associations of some Eimeria species and hosts that evolve under natural conditions are examples of parasite-host interactions that often evolve toward commensalism.
本文描述了感染混合艾美耳球虫（嗜精艾美耳球虫、莫雷艾美耳球虫和贝氏艾美耳球虫）对怀俄明地松鼠（秀丽黄鼠）消化生理的影响。给感染和未感染的松鼠投喂饱和葡萄糖溶液中的精氨酸和蛋氨酸。在给药后0分钟和30分钟采集血液。感染和未感染的松鼠在血浆葡萄糖、精氨酸或蛋氨酸同化方面未发现显著差异。在第二个实验中，给感染和未感染的松鼠喂食已知热量值的食物糊。喂食后24小时收集所有粪便。在粪便热量含量或消化效率方面未检测到差异。这些结果与文献报道的结果表明，需要重新评估这些松鼠共生体的“寄生”性质。我们提出，在自然条件下进化的一些艾美耳球虫物种与宿主的关联是寄生虫 - 宿主相互作用的例子，这种相互作用通常会朝着共生关系发展。
