Competition between strains of Borrelia afzelii inside the rodent host and the tick vector

Author:

Genne, D, Sarr, A, Gomez-Chamorro, A, Durand, J, Cayol, C, Rais, O, and Voordouw, M

Publication type:

Journal Article

Publication date:

2018-10

Journal/Series title:

Proc Biol Sci

Volume:

285

URL:

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rspb.2018.1804?rfr_dat=cr_pub...

Abstract:

Competition in the rodent host reduced strain-specific host-to-tick transmission and competition in the tick vector reduced the abundance of both strains. The strain that was competitively superior in host-to-tick transmission was competitively inferior with respect to bacterial abundance in the tick. This study suggests that in multiple-strain vector-borne pathogens there are trade-offs in competitive ability between the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector. Such trade-offs could play an important role in the coexistence of pathogen strains.