LE3 .A278 2010

2010

Smith, Todd
Hillier, Kirk

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Biology

Biology

Animals infected with parasites often display abnormal behaviour that may be a product of the influence of the parasite over the host. Modifying host behaviour may benefit the parasite by increasing transmission success. Trophically transmitted parasites may benefit from reducing host activity during parasite development so as to avoid being consumed prematurely. Conversely, it may be beneficial for the parasite to induce an increase in host activity to attract predators once the parasite is transmissible. Hepatozoon clamatae is a trophically transmitted, apicomplexan blood parasite that passes between the definitive host, the mosquito, Culex territans, and the intermediate host, the green frog, Rana clamitans. We tested whether, during the 30 day development period, H. clamatae inhibits mosquito host- seeking behaviour, presumably so that mosquitoes avoid being eaten before parasites are mature. We also tested whether, once the parasite has matured, H. clamatae modifies the host- seeking behaviour of the mosquito, presumably so that infected mosquitoes become more conspicuous to the frog. Observations of the behaviour of infected mosquitoes in the presence of uninfected green frogs during parasite development and at parasite maturity suggest parasite manipulation of behaviour is not occurring. However, inhibition of host- seeking behaviour due to egg retention in both infected and uninfected mosquitoes may not allow a true interpretation of this host- parasite relationship.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:659