Cockroach hosts in thermal gradients suppress parasite development

Abstract

Cockroaches parasitized by the temperature-sensitive acanthocephalan Moniliformis moniliformis exhibit a variety of behavioral alterations, so we asked if parasitized cockroaches defended themselves against the parasite with altered thermal choices. We tested the null hypothesis that cockroaches infected with M. moniliformis do not alter temperature choice in two ways: by direct observation and, indirectly, by observation of parasite development after a prolonged developmental period. When we compared acanthocephalan development in cockroaches that were allowed to use thermal gradients to acanthocephalan development in cockroaches held at constant temperatures, we found that in two cockroach species (Supella longipalpa and Blatta orientalis), acanthocephalan development was greatly retarded, a result that is consistent with the cockroaches spending time in cold temperatures. Parasitized animals exhibit behavioral alterations that can have profound effects on parasite transmission and host well-being; neither the beneficiaries of those alterations nor the alterations themselves are easily predictable.

Parasitized snails take the heat: a case of host manipulation?

“…For instance, Elliot et al (2002) demonstrated that locusts infected by a fungal pathogen in microhabitats where they were able to raise their body temperatures to fever levels prolonged their lifespan and consequently produced one clutch of viable oVspring before death. Although less well documented, selection of cool temperatures upon infection can also retard parasite development (e.g., Moore and Freehling 2002). However, alterations in host behavior may simply be a side-eVect of the infection and beneWt neither the host nor parasite (Campbell et al 2010;Kavaliers and Colwell 1992;Lefcort and Bayne 1991;Holmes and Zohar 1990;Minchella 1985;Ewald 1980).…”

Application of infrared thermography to the study of behavioural fever in the desert locust

“…Lactin and Johnson, 1996;Muchlinski et al, 1999;Masters et al, 1988;Springate and Thomas, 2005); (2) ambient temperature, T a , measured within close proximity of an animal (e.g. Blanford and Thomas, 1999;Moore and Freehling, 2002;Bundey et al, 2003;Coggan et al, 2011);or (3) surface temperature, T s , usually by means of adhesion with a thermal-stable glue (e.g. Khani and Moharramipour, 2010).…”

Immune activation influences the trade-off between thermoregulation and shelter use

“…fish: Tsai & Hoh, 1995;amphibians: Casterlin & Reynolds, 1977;reptiles: Merchant, Williams, Trosclair, Elsey, & Mills, 2007) and is associated with infections in birds and mammals (Janda & Abbott, 1998;Tom as, 2012). (2) Use a comprehensive range of sampling time points because febrile responses can range from hours (Haukenes & Barton, 2004) to days (Burns et al, 1996;Don et al, 1994) to weeks (Moore & Freehling, 2002), depending on taxon. (3) Control for shelter availability (see rationale above and below).…”