Behavioural changes in the flour beetleTribolium confusuminfected with the spirurid nematodeProtospirura muricola

Abstract

We examined changes to the behaviour of flour beetles, Tribolium confusum, infected with the rodent stomach worm, the spirurid Protospirura muricola, in the context of the 'Behavioural Manipulation Hypothesis'. Trobolium confusum infected with the third-stage infective larvae of P. muricola showed consistently altered patterns of behaviour. Relative to uninfected beetles, over a measured time period, beetles infected with P. muricola were likely to move over a shorter distance, when moving their speed of movement was slower, they were more likely to stay in the illuminated area of their environment, more likely to emerge from darkened areas into the illuminated areas, and their longevity was significantly shortened. The changes in behaviour, as reflected in effects on speed of movement, were only evident among beetles that actually harboured infective cysts and not among those carrying younger infections when the larvae within their haemocoels would have been at an earlier stage of development and not yet capable of infecting the definitive murine hosts. We discuss whether these changes would have made the beetles more susceptible to predation by rodents, and specifically by the omnivorous eastern spiny mouse, Acomys dimidiatus, the natural definitive host of this parasite in Egypt, from where the P. muricola isolate originated, and whether they support the Behavioural Manipulation Hypothesis or reflect parasite-induced pathology.

Magnitude and direction of parasite‐induced phenotypic alterations: a meta‐analysis in acanthocephalans

“…Most of the time, such phenotypic alterations are interpreted as expressions of the extended phenotype ( sensu Dawkins, ) of the parasite species, whose ability to ‘manipulate’ its host has evolved by natural selection (Moore, ; Thomas, Adamo, & Moore, ; Hughes, Brodeur, & Thomas, ). Alternatively, they could correspond to simple pathological effects (Chow & Mackauer, ; Edelaar, Drent, & De Goeij, ; Schutgens et al ., ) or to an adaptive host response (Smith Trail, ; Poulin, ; Poulin, Brodeur, & Moore, ). Whether the magnitude of parasite phenotypic alterations varies in relation to its consequences for the parasite and its host is poorly documented.…”

A parasitological evaluation of edible insects and their role in the transmission of parasitic diseases to humans and animals

“…Cockroaches play an important role in the transmission of the discussed parasites, including zoological gardens [90]. A study of experimentally infected flour beetles ( Tribolium confusum ) demonstrated that Spirurids can also influence insect behavior [91]. Behavioral changes increase the risk of insectivores selecting infected individuals.…”

Rehydration methods to recover cysticercoids of the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta from dry flour beetle carcasses

“…Parasite-induced mortality is a key process in host–parasite relationships, and typically operates in an intensity-dependent manner (Hudson et al , 1992; Benesh, 2011; Schutgens et al , 2015), but there are exceptions (Benesh & Valtonen, 2007). As a density-dependent process, parasite numbers in individual hosts at the time of death are important, and have been obtained directly for many vertebrate (e.g.…”

“…Terrestrial arthropods present an interesting situation for studies on host mortality: they host a variety of helminth parasites (Roberts & Janovy, 2009) and many are important pests. Moreover, some, such as tenebrionid beetles, are important model systems for host–parasite–environment interactions (Shostak, 2014; Schutgens et al , 2015; Woolsey et al , 2015). However, terrestrial arthropods can desiccate post-mortem, rendering their carcasses difficult to dissect and obtain direct parasite counts (Ungureanu, 1972; Keymer, 1980; Schutgens et al , 2015).…”

“…Moreover, some, such as tenebrionid beetles, are important model systems for host–parasite–environment interactions (Shostak, 2014; Schutgens et al , 2015; Woolsey et al , 2015). However, terrestrial arthropods can desiccate post-mortem, rendering their carcasses difficult to dissect and obtain direct parasite counts (Ungureanu, 1972; Keymer, 1980; Schutgens et al , 2015). Our aim was to develop and evaluate methods for quantifying parasite intensity from otherwise unusable dry carcasses.…”