Discussion

Despite great concern about the global health threat of infectious diseases in humans and domestic animals, we still don’t have a clear understanding about how ecological heterogeneity determines infection burdens, disease, transmission, or how to successfully control infections in variable populations. Our reliance on highly controlled, laboratory models may underlie some of our failures to adequately manage disease burdens in real-world settings, where individuals compete for food, mates and space; endure seasonal and spatial environmental variability; and are exposed to a vast array of parasites and pathogens. We have established a hybrid wild/laboratory rodent model system in order to investigate the causes and consequences of this ecological heterogeneity for host-parasite interactions. Specifically, this work focuses on Heligomosoides polygyrus and its natural host, the wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), and addresses the following questions: (i) what determines susceptibility and resistance to H. polygyrus in the wild? and (ii) how does nutritional availability and coinfection with other gastrointestinal parasites impact H. polygyrus infection and immunity. Our results highlight how pairing both the lab and natural setting provides a unique and powerful opportunity to understand the causes and consequences of ecological heterogeneity on infection, immunity and disease control.