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Data from: Competing for blood: the ecology of parasite resource competition in human malaria-helminth co-infections

Cite this dataset

Budischak, Sarah A. et al. (2019). Data from: Competing for blood: the ecology of parasite resource competition in human malaria-helminth co-infections [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.v08p7

Abstract

Ecological theory suggests that co-infecting parasite species can interact within hosts directly, via host immunity and/or via resource competition. In mice, competition for red blood cells (RBCs) between malaria and bloodsucking helminths can regulate malaria population dynamics, but the importance of RBC competition in human hosts was unknown. We analyzed infection density (i.e. the concentration of parasites in infected hosts), from a 2-year deworming study of over 4,000 human subjects. After accounting for resource-use differences among parasites, we find evidence of resource competition, priority effects, and a competitive hierarchy within co-infected individuals. For example, reducing competition via deworming increased Plasmodium vivax densities 2.8-fold, and this effect is limited to bloodsucking hookworms. Our ecological, resource-based perspective sheds new light into decades of conflicting outcomes of malaria-helminth co-infection studies with significant health and transmission consequences. Beyond blood, investigating within-human resource competition may bring new insights for improving human health.

Usage notes

Location

Indonesia