Any suggestions as to how and why such a complex lifecycle evolved? Could
it have been a series of opportunistic terminal additions that got locked in
somehow?
Martin M. Meiss
2010/3/23 Lien Luong <[email protected]>
> The trematode, Halipegus ovocaudatus, a parasite of amphibians has four
> obligatory hosts (3 intermediate). Starting with the adult parasites in
> frogs, then mollusk, copepod, and dragonfly larvae before returning to the
> frog via predation (Kechemir N. 1978). In general, 4-host life cycles are
> very rare.
>
> Hope that helps,
> Lien
>
>
> At 01:08 PM 3/23/2010, David Inouye wrote:
>
>> What's an example of a parasite that has a large number of different
>> intermediate hosts in its life cycle? I thought I remembered hearing about
>> one that had about three intermediate hosts in the life cycle, but a quick
>> perusal of an old parasitology book hasn't turned that up.
>>
>> David Inouye
>>
>> Dr. David W. Inouye, Professor
>> Dept. of Biology
>> University of Maryland
>> College Park, MD 20742-4415
>>
>> Rocky Mtn. Biological Laboratory
>> PO Box 519
>> Crested Butte, CO 81224
>>
>> [email protected]
>> 301-405-6946
>>
>
> Lien T. Luong
> Research Associate
> Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics
> 208 Mueller Laboratory
> Pennsylvania State University
> University Park, PA 16802
> 814-865-0522
> http://www.cidd.psu.edu/people/ltl1
>
