Waterborne Transmission and the Evolution of Virulence among Gastrointestinal Bacteria Export

@article{citeulike:5027074, abstract = {Diarrhoeal diseases are primary contributors to millions of deaths annually. Yet, little is known about the evolutionary reasons for the differences in virulence among gastrointestinal pathogens. Applying the comparative, cost/benefit approach of evolutionary biology this paper proposes that waterborne transmission should favour evolution towards high virulence. This hypothesis is supported by a cross-specific test, which shows that waterborne transmission is strongly correlated with the virulence of bacterial gastrointestinal pathogens of humans. Alternative explanations of this correlation are not supported by available data. These findings bear on public health policy because they draw attention to a previously unrecognized long-range benefit gained from purification of water supplies: diarrhoeal pathogens may evolve to lower levels of virulence.}, author = {Ewald, P. W.}, citeulike-article-id = {5027074}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3863778}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/3863778}, doi = {10.2307/3863778}, issn = {09502688}, journal = {Epidemiology and Infection}, keywords = {behaviour, cooperation, disease, parasite, sociobiology, teaching}, number = {1}, pages = {83--119}, posted-at = {2009-06-30 22:30:55}, priority = {2}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, title = {Waterborne Transmission and the Evolution of Virulence among Gastrointestinal Bacteria}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3863778}, volume = {106}, year = {1991} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:5027074 L3 - citeulike-article-id:5027074 N2 - Diarrhoeal diseases are primary contributors to millions of deaths annually. Yet, little is known about the evolutionary reasons for the differences in virulence among gastrointestinal pathogens. Applying the comparative, cost/benefit approach of evolutionary biology this paper proposes that waterborne transmission should favour evolution towards high virulence. This hypothesis is supported by a cross-specific test, which shows that waterborne transmission is strongly correlated with the virulence of bacterial gastrointestinal pathogens of humans. Alternative explanations of this correlation are not supported by available data. These findings bear on public health policy because they draw attention to a previously unrecognized long-range benefit gained from purification of water supplies: diarrhoeal pathogens may evolve to lower levels of virulence. IS - 1 JF - Epidemiology and Infection SN - 09502688 EP - 119 TI - Waterborne Transmission and the Evolution of Virulence among Gastrointestinal Bacteria PB - Cambridge University Press VL - 106 SP - 83 KW - behaviour KW - cooperation KW - disease KW - parasite KW - sociobiology KW - teaching AU - Ewald, PW PY - 1991/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3863778 ER -