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Regional Distribution of a Brain-Encysting Parasite Provides Insight on Parasite-Induced Host Behavioral Manipulation
Journal of Parasitology
  • Siri H. Helland-Riise, Norwegian Academy of Sciences - Oslo
  • Lauren E. Nadler, Norwegian University of Life Sciences - Oslo; University of California - San Diego
  • Marco A. Vindas, Norwegian University of Life Sciences - Oslo
  • Erik Bengston, University of California - San Diego
  • Andrew V. Turner, University of California - San Diego
  • Ida B. Johansen, Norwegian University of Life Sciences - Oslo
  • Kelly L. Weinersmith, Rice University
  • Ryan F. Hechinger, University of California - San Diego
  • Øyvind Øverli, Norwegian University of Life Sciences - Oslo
ORCID
0000-0001-8225-8344
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-25-2020
Keywords
  • Experimental infection,
  • Neurophysiology,
  • Fundulus parvipinnis,
  • Euhaplorchis californiensis,
  • Brain stem,
  • Reproductive physiology,
  • Parasite quantification
Abstract

Some parasite species alter the behavior of intermediate hosts to promote transmission to the next host in the parasite's life cycle. This is the case for Euhaplorchis californiensis, a brain-encysting trematode parasite that causes behavioral changes in the California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis). These manipulations increase predation by the parasite's final host, piscivorous marsh birds. The mechanisms by which E. californiensis achieves this manipulation remain poorly understood. As E. californiensis cysts reside on the surface of the killifish's brain, discerning regional differences in parasite distribution could indicate mechanisms for host control. In this study, we developed a method for repeated experimental infections. In addition, we measured brain-region specific density using a novel methodology to locate and quantify parasite infection. We show that E. californiensis cysts are non-randomly distributed on the fish brain, aggregating on the diencephalon/ mesencephalon region (a brain area involved in controlling reproduction and stress coping) and the rhombencephalon (an area involved in controlling locomotion and basal physiology). Determining causal mechanisms behind this pattern of localization will guide future research examining the neurological mechanisms of parasite-induced host manipulation. These findings suggest that parasites are likely targeting the reproductive, monoaminergic, and locomotor systems to achieve host behavioral manipulation.

DOI
10.1645/19-86
Comments

©American Society of Parasitologists 2020. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Additional Comments
Research Council of Norway project #s: 240116, 250048
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International
Citation Information
Siri H. Helland-Riise, Lauren E. Nadler, Marco A. Vindas, Erik Bengston, et al.. "Regional Distribution of a Brain-Encysting Parasite Provides Insight on Parasite-Induced Host Behavioral Manipulation" Journal of Parasitology Vol. 106 Iss. 1 (2020) p. 188 - 197 ISSN: 0022-3395
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lauren-nadler/29/