Trevelline, B. K., Stephenson, J. F., & Kohl, K. D. (2020). Two’s company, three’sa crowd: Exploring how host–parasite–microbiota interactions may influence disease susceptibility and conservation of wildlife. Molecular Ecology.

The disruption of host-associated microbial communities (termed “dysbiosis”) among wild animals may reduce host fitness and survival under natural environmental conditions. Parasitic infections represent a potentially potent, yet poorly understood, factor influencing microbial community dynamics and animal health. As an example, the presence of an ectoparasitic mite (Otodectes cynotis) in the ear canal of the Santa Catalina Island fox (Urocyon littoralis catalinae) was associated with significantly reduced ear canal microbial diversity, with the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus pseudintermedius dominating the community. This provides an excellent example of how aspects of disease ecology can be integrated into studies of host-associated microbiota to advance conservation science and practice.