Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
Parasitol Res. 2023 Aug;122(8):1953-1957. doi: 10.1007/s00436-023-07883-7. Epub 2023 May 22.
Although within-host competition among parasites if often assumed to occur based on statistical patterns, actual physical evidence of direct antagonistic interactions between parasites, either intraspecific or interspecific, is very rare. Here, we report such evidence between and within two species of hemiurid trematodes infecting the deep-sea grenadier fish Coryphaenoides subserrulatus. We found pairs of worms attached together, with one worm using its ventral sucker against another worm, and sucking out a large protuberance on the victim. We also found single worms showing clear signs of past attacks. There was no evidence that these interactions were more common at high intensities of infection, where the conditions would be expected to be more conducive to competitive interactions. Our findings provide evidence that trematodes may cause some harm to co-occurring individuals, suggesting a direct form of interference competition among intestinal helminths.
尽管寄生虫在宿主内的竞争通常基于统计模式假设，但寄生虫之间（种内或种间）直接对抗性相互作用的实际物理证据非常罕见。在这里，我们报告了感染深海鲱鱼 Coryphaenoides subserrulatus 的两种半尾科吸虫之间和内部的这种证据。我们发现成对的蠕虫附着在一起，一条蠕虫用其腹吸盘抵住另一条蠕虫，并吸出受害者身上的一个大肿块。我们还发现了单独的蠕虫，这些蠕虫明显有过去被攻击的迹象。没有证据表明这些相互作用在感染强度较高时更为常见，因为在这种情况下，竞争相互作用的条件预计会更为有利。我们的发现提供了证据表明吸虫可能会对共存个体造成一些伤害，这表明肠道寄生虫之间存在直接的干涉竞争形式。
