Toxoplasma gondii, sex and premature rejection.

Journal article

Adaptive sex ratio theory explains why gametocyte sex ratios are female-biased in many populations of apicomplexan 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.

Authors: West, SA; Reece, SE; Read, A

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Trends in parasitology
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 155-157
• Publication date: 2003-04-01
• DOI: 10.1016/s1471-4922(03)00033-3
• EISSN: 1471-5007
• ISSN: 1471-4922
• Language: English
• Keywords: Evolution, Molecular; Sex Ratio; Toxoplasma; Female; Male; Animals; Life Cycle Stages