TY - ECHAP
KW - Co-infection
AU - Ezenwa VO
AB - Concurrent infection (or co-infection) is the norm rather than the exception in real-world populations where most host individuals are infected by more than one parasite species simultaneously. Likewise, nutritional deficiencies are also common, and co-infection and multiple nutritional deficiencies frequently co-occur in the same populations. Despite the coincidence of these two phenomena, however, only a small fraction of studies on infection and malnutrition address the issue of co-infection. This chapter explores how the integration of ecological and epidemiological perspectives can be used to draw insight into the interactions between co-infection and nutrition. Specifically, I examine whether applying an ecological framework that accounts for feeding or “trophic” relationships between species can help advance our understanding of how co-infection affects nutrition (helminths and malaria) and, reciprocally, how nutrition affects co-infection (helminths and tuberculosis). I also consider the practicalities of applying a trophic approach to studying co-infection and nutrition in terms of specific methods that can be incorporated into epidemiological studies and the clinical value of considering trophic links. The chapter ends by highlighting the potential value of integrating ideas and approaches across disciplines for addressing the complex problem posed by coincident co-infection and malnutrition.
BT - Nutrition and Infectious Diseases
DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-56913-6_14
LA - eng
N2 - Concurrent infection (or co-infection) is the norm rather than the exception in real-world populations where most host individuals are infected by more than one parasite species simultaneously. Likewise, nutritional deficiencies are also common, and co-infection and multiple nutritional deficiencies frequently co-occur in the same populations. Despite the coincidence of these two phenomena, however, only a small fraction of studies on infection and malnutrition address the issue of co-infection. This chapter explores how the integration of ecological and epidemiological perspectives can be used to draw insight into the interactions between co-infection and nutrition. Specifically, I examine whether applying an ecological framework that accounts for feeding or “trophic” relationships between species can help advance our understanding of how co-infection affects nutrition (helminths and malaria) and, reciprocally, how nutrition affects co-infection (helminths and tuberculosis). I also consider the practicalities of applying a trophic approach to studying co-infection and nutrition in terms of specific methods that can be incorporated into epidemiological studies and the clinical value of considering trophic links. The chapter ends by highlighting the potential value of integrating ideas and approaches across disciplines for addressing the complex problem posed by coincident co-infection and malnutrition.
PB - Springer International Publishing
PY - 2020
SN - 9783030569129
SP - 411
EP - 428
T2 - Nutrition and Infectious Diseases
TI - Co-infection and Nutrition: Integrating Ecological and Epidemiological Perspectives
ER -