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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
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Culturing and Genetically Manipulating Entomopathogenic Nematodes
Published on: March 31, 2022
Host-manipulation by parasites with complex life cycles: adaptive or not?
Frank Cézilly1, Frédéric Thomas, Vincent Médoc
1Université de Bourgogne, UMR CNRS 5561 Biogéosciences, 6 blvd. Gabriel, Dijon, France. frank.cezilly@u-bourgogne.fr
Trends in Parasitology
|April 16, 2010
Summary
Parasitic manipulation of hosts is poorly understood, especially regarding transmission to final hosts. Considering the evolution of complex life cycles in helminths may offer new insights into parasite-driven host manipulation and transmission dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The role of host manipulation by parasites in trophic transmission to final hosts is not well understood.
- Assessing the transmission benefits for manipulative parasites is challenging, and direct evidence linking manipulation to successful trophic transmission is lacking.
- Infected hosts may exhibit increased vulnerability to predation by non-host species, complicating transmission dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the unclear effects of parasite-induced host manipulation on trophic transmission.
- To investigate the evolutionary underpinnings of host manipulation in parasites, particularly helminths with complex life cycles.
- To propose a novel perspective on host manipulation by examining the evolution of parasite life cycles.
Main Methods:
- This study is primarily theoretical, proposing a new perspective based on existing literature and evolutionary principles.
- It involves analyzing the evolutionary dynamics of complex life cycles in helminth parasites.
- The approach considers recent theoretical advances in the evolution of host manipulation.
Main Results:
- Evidence for a direct causal link between parasite-induced manipulation and enhanced trophic transmission is currently missing.
- Theoretical models suggest that host manipulation's evolution does not necessarily depend on increased specificity in trophic transmission.
- Increased predation risk for infected intermediate hosts by non-final hosts is a recognized factor.
Conclusions:
- A deeper examination of the evolution of complex life cycles in helminth parasites could provide a new framework for understanding host manipulation.
- This perspective may clarify the evolutionary pressures and benefits associated with parasite-induced behavioral changes in hosts.
- Further research integrating life cycle evolution with host manipulation is warranted.
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