Jennifer Morger, Jaroslav Bajnok, Kellyanne Boyce, Philip S Craig, Michael T Rogan, Zhao-Rong Lun, Geoff Hide, Barbara Tschirren
Toxoplasma gondii is a highly successful parasite with a worldwide prevalence. Small rodents are the main intermediate hosts, and there is growing evidence that T. gondii modifies their behaviour. Chronically infected rodents show impaired learning capacity, enhanced activity, and, most importantly, a reduction of the innate fear towards cat odour. This modification of host behaviour ensures a successful transmission of T. gondii from rodents to felids, the definitive hosts of the parasite. Given the negative fitness consequences of this behavioural manipulation, as well as an increased mortality during the acute phase of infection, we expect rodents to evolve potent resistance mechanisms that prevent or control infection...
August 2014: Infection, Genetics and Evolution