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Co-infection alters population dynamics of infectious disease

Author

Listed:
  • Hanna Susi

    (Metapopulation Research Group, University of Helsinki)

  • Benoit Barrès

    (Metapopulation Research Group, University of Helsinki)

  • Pedro F. Vale

    (Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh
    Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh)

  • Anna-Liisa Laine

    (Metapopulation Research Group, University of Helsinki)

Abstract

Co-infections by multiple pathogen strains are common in the wild. Theory predicts co-infections to have major consequences for both within- and between-host disease dynamics, but data are currently scarce. Here, using common garden populations of Plantago lanceolata infected by two strains of the pathogen Podosphaera plantaginis, either singly or under co-infection, we find the highest disease prevalence in co-infected treatments both at the host genotype and population levels. A spore-trapping experiment demonstrates that co-infected hosts shed more transmission propagules than singly infected hosts, thereby explaining the observed change in epidemiological dynamics. Our experimental findings are confirmed in natural pathogen populations—more devastating epidemics were measured in populations with higher levels of co-infection. Jointly, our results confirm the predictions made by theoretical and experimental studies for the potential of co-infection to alter disease dynamics across a large host–pathogen metapopulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanna Susi & Benoit Barrès & Pedro F. Vale & Anna-Liisa Laine, 2015. "Co-infection alters population dynamics of infectious disease," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6975
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6975
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    Cited by:

    1. Elina Numminen & Anna-Liisa Laine, 2020. "The spread of a wild plant pathogen is driven by the road network," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Frédéric M Hamelin & Linda J S Allen & Vrushali A Bokil & Louis J Gross & Frank M Hilker & Michael J Jeger & Carrie A Manore & Alison G Power & Megan A Rúa & Nik J Cunniffe, 2019. "Coinfections by noninteracting pathogens are not independent and require new tests of interaction," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(12), pages 1-25, December.

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