Toxoplasma gondii, sex and premature rejection

Stuart West, S E Reece, A F Read

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Adaptive sex ratio theory explains why gametocyte sex ratios are female-biased in many populations of api-complexan parasites such as Plasmodium, and Toxoplasma. Recently, Ferguson has criticized this framework and proposed two alternative explanations - one for vector-borne parasites (e.g. Plasmodium) and one for Toxoplasma. Ferguson raises some interesting issues that certainly deserve more empirical attention. However, it should be pointed out that: (1) there are theoretical and empirical problems for his alternative hypotheses; and (2) existing empirical data support the application of sex ratio theory to these parasites, not its rejection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)155-157
Number of pages3
JournalTrends in Parasitology
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2003

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • PARASITES
  • MALARIA
  • RATIOS

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