Parasite–gut microbiota associations in wild wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus)

• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1440427
• Publication Date: 2024-11-18T04:24:13Z
• Authors: Kirsty J. Marsh; Aura R. Raulo; Joanne P. Webster; Sarah C. L. Knowles
• Keywords: Wood mouse

The mammalian gastrointestinal tract provides a habitat for multiple commensal and pathogenic organisms spanning all three domains of life. Both positive negative interactions occur between gut inhabitants, with potential consequences host health. Studies parasite–microbiota associations in natural systems remain scarce, yet are important understanding how parasite communities microbiota shape each other, these influence Here, we characterize helminth coccidial infections profiles wild population wood mice ( Apodemus sylvaticus ) over 3 years, using two complementary approaches. We first examined along the length through destructive sampling. Then, larger non-invasive capture mark-recapture study, assessed whether parasitic detected feces predicted fecal diversity composition. found that while overall composition was not associated infection by any common species, richness parasitism ways: (i) trematode Corrigia vitta small intestine higher caecum; (ii) there relationship study. As our results identified parasites alpha diversity, future experimental study this tractable system would be valuable to definitively test directionality interactions.