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Experimental toxocariasis in mice and its effect on their behaviour
Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology
|April 1, 1984
Summary
Toxocara canis infection in mice caused significant behavioral changes, including impaired motor skills and increased exploration. These alterations may facilitate parasite transmission to definitive hosts.
Area of Science:
- Neuroparasitology
- Animal Behavior
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Toxocara canis is a nematode parasite with a complex life cycle involving paratenic hosts like mice.
- Parasitic infections can alter host behavior to enhance transmission.
- Understanding these behavioral changes is crucial for controlling parasite spread.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral effects of Toxocara canis infection in mice.
- To determine if behavioral alterations are linked to parasite transmission strategies.
Main Methods:
- Mice were infected with second-stage larvae of Toxocara canis.
- Behavioral tests were conducted to assess motor performance, activity levels, and responses to novel environments and stimuli.
- General health of infected and control mice was monitored.
Main Results:
- Infected mice showed impaired motor performance and increased ambulatory activity compared to controls.
- T. canis-infected mice exhibited a greater preference for exposed and novel environments.
- Infected mice displayed reduced approach-avoidance conflict and less caution with novel stimuli, independent of general health status.
Conclusions:
- Toxocara canis infection induces significant behavioral modifications in mice.
- These behavioral changes, such as increased exploration and reduced fear, may increase the likelihood of mice being preyed upon by canids, thus facilitating parasite transmission.
- Behavioral manipulation is a key strategy in the life cycle of T. canis.