Coexistence in host–pathogen systems

Lanchier and Neuhauser have initiated the study of host–symbiont systems but have concentrated on the case in which the birth rates for unassociated hosts are equal. Here we allow the birth rates to be different and identify cases in which a host with a specialist pathogen can coexist with a second species. Our calculations suggest that it is possible for two hosts with specialist pathogens to coexist but it is not possible for a host with a specialist mutualist to coexist with a second species.