Parasite co-structure: broad and local scale approaches

• Published in: Parasite Vol. 15; no. 3; pp. 439 - 443
• Main Author: Criscione, C.D.
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris EDP Sciences 01.09.2008; Princeps
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Evolution; co-structure; comparative phylogeography; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Flow - genetics; Gene Frequency; Genetic Variation; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Genetics, Population; Invertebrata; Molecular Epidemiology; parasite; Parasites - classification; Parasites - genetics; Phylogeny; population genetics; Population genetics, reproduction patterns; co-structure; Phylogeography; Molecular epidemiology; Parasite; Population structure; Review; Population genetics; comparative phylogeography
• ISSN: 1252-607X; 1776-1042; 1776-1042
• DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2008153439

A co-structure study is a comparison of demographic and/or genetic structure between two or more species. Such a comparative analysis among a parasite and its host(s) or among multiple parasite species is useful to elucidate factors that shape genetic variation within and among parasite populations. I provide a brief review of how co-structure studies in parasite systems can be used to address ecological, evolutionary, and epidemiological questions. Subjects that can be addressed with parasite costructure studies range from broad-scale analyses that compare phylogeographical patterns to local scale analyses that examine among host transmission within a host population.