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Parasite manipulation of the proximate mechanisms that mediate social behavior in vertebrates

Sabra L Klein1

  • 1W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA. saklein@jhsph.edu

Physiology & Behavior
|September 5, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Parasites can manipulate host social behaviors by infecting the brain and altering communication pathways. These pathogen-driven changes, seen across vertebrates, likely exploit ancient brain structures.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Paul MacLean identified brain regions crucial for vertebrate social behaviors.
  • Pathogens can hijack these neural pathways to modify host social actions.
  • Behavioral changes post-infection can be host-mediated (sickness) or pathogen-mediated for transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review parasite-induced alterations in host social behaviors.
  • To illustrate mechanisms by which parasites affect behavior.
  • To demonstrate conserved effects across vertebrate classes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on parasite-host interactions and behavior.
  • Comparative analysis across vertebrate taxa.
  • Focus on neurobiological and neurochemical mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Parasites alter social behaviors like aggression, reproduction, and parental care.
  • Mechanisms include direct neuronal infection, central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, and altered neurochemistry/hormones.
  • Parasite-driven behavioral modifications are conserved across vertebrate classes.

Conclusions:

  • Parasites actively manipulate host social behavior to their advantage.
  • These manipulations often target evolutionarily conserved neural systems, particularly the limbic system.
  • Understanding these interactions is key to controlling disease transmission and host manipulation.

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