Deer, deer, and other animals are commonly infected with a range of internal parasites, including a type of worm known as intestinal helminths.

Although the majority of these infections are not fatal, they do affect the animal's health and behavior.

For example, animals infected with these parasites eat less grass and plants than usual.

So a world with a lot of these parasites might be a much more dangerous world.

This was the subject of a recent study published in the journal "PNAS" on the 9th of May, concerned with the consequences of parasitic infections common in wild animals on terrestrial ecosystems.

Parasites affect the way we think, and they also provide some form of protection for our bodies (Getty Images)

domino effect

Given the global spread of these parasites, their effects may be wide-ranging, and may lead to severe global consequences.

When deadly parasites decimate a population, they inevitably have indirect effects on the surrounding environment.

The removal of these parasites from the landscape could lead to fundamental changes in the ecosystem.

Such an effect is known as the Domino Effect, in which small changes lead to chain reactions and changes in the diet, amplifying their effects.

According to the press release published by the University of Michigan in the United States, Amanda Coltz, a biologist involved in the study, says that “parasites are known to have negative effects on the physiology and behavior of host animals, but we do not know much about the impact of these parasites on larger ecosystems.” in which you live."

Parasitic worms have contributed to reducing deer feeding rates (Getty Images)

On an individual level, we know that these parasites have a huge impact on our bodies, from affecting the way we think to providing some form of protection for our bodies.

According to a report published by Science Alert, it is estimated that parasites make up about half of all species of living organisms.

However, we do not know much about the potential effects of these parasites on a larger scale.

Extensive results

Therefore, the team analyzed data from deer infestations with helminths using computer modeling methods and comparison statistics.

They found that some of the non-lethal effects of these parasites - such as reduced feeding in infected animals - may have even greater lethal effects, because they occur more commonly.

The results showed that parasitic worms contributed to reducing deer feeding rates.

Hence, this affects the functional state of living organisms' bodies and the mass of their bodies, but it does not affect their reproduction or survival.

Parasitic infection may contribute to a greener world (Pixabe)

In addition, the results of computer modeling indicated that infecting animals with these parasitic worms contributed to the stabilization of the cycle of plants eaten by herbivores.

But if these parasitic worms affect the ability of herbivores to reproduce, it is likely to destabilize the ecosystem.

"Knowing that parasitic worms are found in all ruminant animals (such as cows, goats, sheep, giraffes, deer and camels) that live freely in pastures, our findings indicate that the rates of these animals globally are lower than they could be due to infection with these animals," Coltz added. Parasitic worms.

Hence, declining numbers of ruminant herbivores, due to this parasitic infection, may contribute to a greener world.