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Toxocara in the mouse: a model for parasite-altered host behaviour?

C V Holland1, D M Cox

  • 1Department of Zoology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. cholland@mail.tcd.ie.

Journal of Helminthology
|August 25, 2001
PubMed
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Toxocara canis infection alters mouse behavior, but changes appear pathological, not adaptive manipulation. This parasite impacts diverse behaviors, potentially relevant to human toxocariasis.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • The Manipulation Hypothesis suggests parasites alter host behavior for their own benefit.
  • Toxocara canis is a common helminth parasite with a complex life cycle.
  • Understanding parasite-host interactions is crucial for disease ecology and public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate parasite-altered host behavior in the Toxocara mouse model.
  • To investigate the role of infection dose and larval brain accumulation in behavioral changes.
  • To determine if observed behavioral modifications support the Manipulation Hypothesis.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of outbred and inbred mice with varying doses of Toxocara canis ova.
  • Assessment of diverse behaviors including activity, exploration, anxiety, learning, memory, and social behavior.

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  • Quantification of larval burden in the brain and correlation with behavioral outcomes.

    • Main Results:

    • Significant variation in larval brain accumulation between individual mice and between mouse strains.
    • Observed behavioral alterations in infected mice, linked to larval brain load.
    • Outbred mice showed reduced aggression, increased defensive behaviors, and impaired learning with higher infections. Inbred mice displayed altered activity patterns (reduced immobility, increased digging/climbing).

    Conclusions:

    • Toxocara infection significantly impacts a wide range of murine behaviors.
    • Evidence suggests behavioral changes are likely pathological side effects rather than adaptive manipulation.
    • Observed behavioral alterations in mice may offer insights into human toxocariasis.