Behavioural dominance and Taenia crassiceps parasitism in BALB/c male mice

Gourbal, Benjamin; Lacroix, André; Gabrion, C.

doi:10.1007/s00436-002-0691-7

Cited by 25 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Males that are more disease resistant may also be relatively good competitors and likely to achieve high status. The reverse could also hold; for example, Taenia crassiceps infection in male mice decreases the likelihood that a male will achieve high dominance status [128]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The costs of dominance: testosterone, cortisol and intestinal parasites in wild male chimpanzees

Muehlenbein

Watts

2010

BioPsychoSocial Med

135

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BackgroundMale members of primate species that form multi-male groups typically invest considerable effort into attaining and maintaining high dominance rank. Aggressive behaviors are frequently employed to acquire and maintain dominance status, and testosterone has been considered the quintessential physiological moderator of such behaviors. Testosterone can alter both neurological and musculoskeletal functions that may potentiate pre-existing patterns of aggression. However, elevated testosterone levels impose several costs, including increased metabolic rates and immunosuppression. Cortisol also limits immune and reproductive functions.MethodsTo improve understanding of the relationships between dominance rank, hormones and infection status in nonhuman primates, we collected and analyzed 67 fecal samples from 22 wild adult male chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda. Samples were analyzed for cortisol and testosterone levels as well as intestinal parasite prevalence and richness. 1,700 hours of observation data were used to determine dominance rank of each animal. We hypothesized that dominance rank would be directly associated with fecal testosterone and cortisol levels and intestinal parasite burden.ResultsFecal testosterone (but not cortisol) levels were directly associated with dominance rank, and both testosterone and cortisol were directly associated with intestinal parasite richness (number of unique species recovered). Dominance rank was directly associated with helminth (but not protozoan) parasite richness, so that high ranking animals had higher testosterone levels and greater helminth burden.ConclusionsOne preliminary interpretation is that the antagonist pleiotropic effects of androgens and glucocorticoids place a cost on attaining and maintaining high dominance rank in this species. Because of the costs associated with elevated steroid levels, dominance status may be an honest signal of survivorship against helminth parasites.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The costs of dominance: testosterone, cortisol and intestinal parasites in wild male chimpanzees

Muehlenbein

Watts

2010

BioPsychoSocial Med

135

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“…This experimental setting is a fascinating example of the interactive host-parasite neuroimmunoendocrine network. It has been shown that hormonal changes in cysticercotic mice profoundly affect their behavior, including sexual activity [18], aggressiveness [37], social status and defense response [21]. Male mice infected with T. crassiceps show remarkable changes in sexual behavior characterized by a complete loss of the ejaculation response early in the infection (6 weeks), followed by a gradual decrease in the number of mounts and intromissions, as well as increasing in their latencies, until none of the parasitized mice showed any sexual response toward female mice [18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In female mice, infection also causes perturbations in sexual behavior, characterized by a reduced receptivity to the male, as well disruption of the estrous cycle [20]. Regarding social behavior, infection disrupts the dominant-subordinate status [21]. Infected animals assume a subordinate status as compared with healthy ones [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helminth Infection Alters Mood and Short-Term Memory as well as Levels of Neurotransmitters and Cytokines in the Mouse Hippocampus

Morales‐Montor

Picazo²,

Besedovsky

et al. 2014

Neuroimmunomodulation

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Helminthic infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries, where children bear the greatest health burden. The ability of parasites to cause behavioral changes in the host has been observed in a variety of host-parasite systems, including the Taenia crassiceps-mouse model. In murine cysticercosis, mice exhibit a disruption in the sexual, aggressive and avoidance predator behaviors. Objective: The present study was conducted to characterize short-term memory and depression-like behavior, as well as levels of neurotransmitters and cytokines in the hippocampus of cysticercotic male and female mice. Methods: Cytokines were detected by RT-PCR and neurotransmitters were quantified by HPLC. Results: Chronic cysticercosis infection induced a decrease in short-term memory in both male and female mice, having a more pronounced effect in females. Infected females showed a significant increase in forced swimming tests with a decrease in immobility. In contrast, male mice showed an increment in total activity and ambulation tests. Serotonin levels decreased by 30% in the hippocampus of infected females whereas noradrenaline levels significantly increased in infected males. The hippocampal expression of IL-4 increased in infected female mice, but decreased in infected male mice. Conclusion: Our study suggests that intraperitoneal chronic infection with cysticerci in mice leads to persistent deficits in tasks dependent on the animal's hippocampal function. Our findings are a first approach to elucidating the role of the neuroimmune network in controlling short-term memory and mood in T. crassiceps-infected mice.

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“…The presence of T. crassiceps in the mouse's body can lead to the modulation of the host's immune system [5]. It has been observed that infection with T. crassiceps can induce immune responses in the brains of mice, which may lead to inflammation and changes in brain function [6,7]. Research on T. crassiceps infection in mice has investigated its correlation with behavioral changes, indicating that the presence of the parasite might influence mouse behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation of the 2D Pattern of Brain Proteins in Mice Infected with Taenia crassiceps ORF Strain

Díaz-Zaragoza,

Hernández-Ávila,

Landa

et al. 2024

IJMS

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Some parasites are known to influence brain proteins or induce changes in the functioning of the nervous system. In this study, our objective is to demonstrate how the two-dimensional gel technique is valuable for detecting differences in protein expression and providing detailed information on changes in the brain proteome during a parasitic infection. Subsequently, we seek to understand how the parasitic infection affects the protein composition in the brain and how this may be related to changes in brain function. By analyzing de novo-expressed proteins at 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-infection compared to the brains of the control mice, we observed that proteins expressed at 2 weeks are primarily associated with neuroprotection or the initial response of the mouse brain to the infection. At 8 weeks, parasitic infection can induce oxidative stress in the brain, potentially activating signaling pathways related to the response to cellular damage. Proteins expressed at 8 weeks exhibit a pattern indicating that, as the host fails to balance the Neuro-Immuno-Endocrine network of the organism, the brain begins to undergo an apoptotic process and consequently experiences brain damage.

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Behavioural dominance and Taenia crassiceps parasitism in BALB/c male mice

Cited by 25 publications

References 45 publications

The costs of dominance: testosterone, cortisol and intestinal parasites in wild male chimpanzees

The costs of dominance: testosterone, cortisol and intestinal parasites in wild male chimpanzees

Helminth Infection Alters Mood and Short-Term Memory as well as Levels of Neurotransmitters and Cytokines in the Mouse Hippocampus

Variation of the 2D Pattern of Brain Proteins in Mice Infected with Taenia crassiceps ORF Strain

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