Parasitic manipulation: further considerations

Tricks of the puppet masters: morphological adaptations to the interaction with nervous system underlying host manipulation by rhizocephalan barnacle Polyascus polygeneus

Background

Rhizocephalan interaction with their decapod hosts is a superb example of host manipulation. These parasites are able to alter the host's physiology and behavior. Host-parasite interaction is performed, presumably, via special modified rootlets invading the ventral ganglions.

Methods

In this study, we focus on the morphology and ultrastructure of these special rootlets in Polyascus polygeneus (Lützen & Takahashi, 1997), family Polyascidae, invading the neuropil of the host's nervous tissue. The ventral ganglionic mass of the infected crabs were fixed, and the observed sites of the host-parasite interplay were studied using transmission electron microscopy, immunolabeling and confocal microscopy.

Results

The goblet-shaped organs present in the basal families of parasitic barnacles were presumably lost in a common ancestor of Polyascidae and crown "Akentrogonida", but the observed invasive rootlets appear to perform similar functions, including the synthesis of various substances which are transferred to the host's nervous tissue. Invasive rootlets significantly differ from trophic ones in cell layer composition and cuticle thickness. Numerous multilamellar bodies are present in the rootlets indicating the intrinsic cell rearrangement. The invasive rootlets of P. polygeneus are enlaced by the thin projections of glial cells. Thus, glial cells can be both the first hosts' respondents to the nervous tissue damage and the mediator of the rhizocephalan interaction with the nervous cells. One of the potential molecules engaged in the relationships of P. polygeneus and its host is serotonin, a neurotransmitter which is found exclusively in the invasive rootlets but not in trophic ones. Serotonin participates in different biological pathways in metazoans including the regulation of aggression in crustaceans, which is reduced in infected crabs. We conclude that rootlets associated with the host's nervous tissue are crucial for the regulation of host-parasite interplay and for evolution of the Rhizocephala.

Specialized structures on the border between rhizocephalan parasites and their host's nervous system reveal potential sites for host-parasite interactions

Rhizocephalan barnacles are a unique group of endoparasitic crustaceans. In their extreme adaptation to endoparasitism, rhizocephalan adults have lost almost all features of their free-living relatives but acquired an outstanding degree of control over the body of their hosts (mostly decapods). The subtle influence exercised by rhizocephalans on the physiology, morphology and behaviour of their hosts is a vivid example of the most intimate host-parasite interactions but their mechanisms are very poorly known. In this study we examined the morphology and the adaptive ultrastructure of the organs invading the nervous system of the host in two rhizocephalan species from the families Peltogastridae, (Peltogaster paguri) and Peltogasterellidae (Peltogasterella gracilis). We found two essentially different types of structures involved in interactions of these two rhizocephalans with the nervous system of their hosts: modified rhizocephalan rootlets lying inside the ganglia and the neural fibres of the host enlacing the trophic rootlets of the parasites. We suggest that both these structures may be highly specialized tools allowing the parasite to interact with the host on the humoral level via neuromediators, hormones, attractants and trophic factors.

Parasite-induced alterations of sensorimotor pathways in gammarids: collateral damage of neuroinflammation?

Some larval helminths alter the behavior of their intermediate hosts in ways that favor the predation of infected hosts, thus enhancing trophic transmission. Gammarids (Crustacea: Amphipoda) offer unique advantages for the study of the proximate factors mediating parasite-induced behavioral changes. Indeed, amphipods infected by distantly related worms (acanthocephalans, cestodes and trematodes) encysted in different microhabitats within their hosts (hemocoel, brain) present comparable, chronic, behavioral pathologies. In order to evaluate the potential connection between behavioral disturbances and immune responses in parasitized gammarids, this Review surveys the literature bearing on sensorimotor pathway dysfunctions in infected hosts, on the involvement of the neuromodulator serotonin in altered responses to environmental stimuli, and on systemic and neural innate immunity in arthropods. Hemocyte concentration and phenoloxidase activity associated with melanotic encapsulation are depressed in acanthocephalan-manipulated gammarids. However, other components of the arsenal deployed by crustaceans against pathogens have not yet been investigated in helminth-infected gammarids. Members of the Toll family of receptors, cytokines such as tumor necrosis factors (TNFs), and the free radical nitric oxide are all implicated in neuroimmune responses in crustaceans. Across animal phyla, these molecules and their neuroinflammatory signaling pathways are touted for their dual beneficial and deleterious properties. Thus, it is argued that neuroinflammation might mediate the biochemical events upstream of the serotonergic dysfunction observed in manipulated gammarids – a parsimonious hypothesis that could explain the common behavioral pathology induced by distantly related parasites, both hemocoelian and cerebral.

Impact of acanthocephalan parasites on aggregation behavior of amphipods (Gammarus pseudolimnaeus)

Acanthocephalan parasites can manipulate the behavior of their amphipod intermediate hosts in ways that increase the amphipod's risk of being eaten by a predator that serves as the final host for the parasite. Some asocial amphipod species have been shown to increase the likelihood of aggregation in response to chemical cues associated with predators. If such aggregation has anti-predation benefits, it might be subject to manipulation by parasites. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the preference of parasitized and unparasitized amphipods (Gammarus pseudolimnaeus) for associating with a group of unparasitized conspecifics, both in the presence and absence of chemical cues from predatory brook sticklebacks (Culaea inconstans). Amphipods with encysted parasites (Corynosoma sp.) avoided aggregating, whereas unparasitized amphipods preferred to aggregate. We also found that the risk of predation by sticklebacks faced by an individual amphipod was significantly lower when the amphipod was in a group compared to when it was alone. This suggests that the aggregation response of unparasitized amphipods is an adaptive response to escape predation. This study provides evidence for a novel parasitic manipulation of intermediate host behavior that is likely to increase transmission to the definitive host.

Parasitic manipulation and neuroinflammation: Evidence from the system Microphallus papillorobustus (Trematoda) - Gammarus (Crustacea)

BACKGROUND

Neuropathological consequences of neuroinflammatory processes have been implicated in a wide range of diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Glial cells, the resident immune cells of the CNS, respond to tissue injury by releasing proinflammatory cytokines and free radicals such as nitric oxide. We explored the possibility that neuroimmune responses are involved in parasitic manipulation of host behavior in a trematode-crustacean association. The cerebral larva of the flatworm Microphallus papillorobustus alters responses to environmental stimuli - and thus reflex pathways - in the crustacean Gammarus insensibilis, in a way that enhances predation of the crustacean by birds, definitive hosts of the parasite.

RESULTS

Immunocytochemical experiments followed by confocal microscopy were performed to study the distribution of glutamine synthetase, a glial cell marker, and nitric oxide synthase in the brain of gammarids. Astrocyte-like glia and their processes were abundant at the surface of the parasites while levels of nitric oxide synthase were elevated at the host-parasite interface in the brain of gammarids harboring mature cerebral larvae and demonstrating altered behavior.

CONCLUSION

Taken together these results lend support to the neuroinflammation hypothesis whereby a chronic CNS specific immune response induced by the parasite plays a role in the disruption of neuromodulation, neuronal integrity, and behavior in infected hosts.

The ecological significance of manipulative parasites

The diversity of ways in which host manipulation by parasites interferes with ecological and evolutionary processes governing biotic interactions has been recently documented, and indicates that manipulative parasites are full participants in the functioning of ecosystems. Phenotypic alterations in parasitised hosts modify host population ecology, apparent competition processes, food web structure and energy and nutrient flow between habitats, as well as favouring habitat creation. As is usually the case in ecology, these phenomena can be greatly amplified by a series of secondary consequences (cascade effects). Here we review the ecological relevance of manipulative parasites in ecosystems and propose directions for further research.

Behind the scene, something else is pulling the strings: Emphasizing parasitic manipulation in vector-borne diseases

Merging the field of epidemiology with those of evolutionary and behavioural ecology can generate considerable fundamental knowledge, as well as help to guide public health policies. An attempt is made here to integrate these disciplines by focusing on parasitic manipulation in vector-borne diseases. Parasitic manipulation is a fascinating strategy of transmission which occurs when a parasite alters phenotypic trait(s) of its host in a way that enhances its probability of transmission. Vector-borne parasites are responsible for many of the most harmful diseases affecting humans, and thus represent public health priority. It has been shown for several decades that viruses, bacteria and protozoa can alter important features of their arthropod vector and vertebrate host in a way that increases their probability of transmission. Here, we review these changes, including, the feeding behaviour, survival and immune system of the vector, as well as attraction, defensive behaviour, blood characteristics and immune system of the vertebrate host. Based on the classic measure of vector-borne disease transmission R(0), additional changes, such as, vertebrate host choice by infected vectors or parasite development duration in the vector are expected. Reported or expected phenotypic changes are discussed in terms of costs and benefits to the parasite, its vector, and the vertebrate host. Introducing the parasitic manipulation concept into vector-borne diseases clearly highlights fruitful avenues not only for fundamental research, but also for developing strategies for disease control.

The effects of toxoplasma infection on rodent behavior are dependent on dose of the stimulus

Parasite Toxoplasma gondii blocks the innate aversion of rats for cat urine, putatively increasing the likelihood of a cat predating a rat. This is thought to reflect an adaptive behavioral manipulation, because toxoplasma can reproduce only in cat intestines. While it will be adaptive for the parasite to cause an absolute behavioral change, fitness costs associated with the manipulation itself suggest that the change is optimized and not maximized. We investigate these conflicting suggestions in the present report. Furthermore, exposure to cat odor causes long-lasting acquisition of learnt fear in the rodents. If toxoplasma manipulates emotional valence of cat odor rather than just sensory response, infection should affect learning driven by the aversive properties of the odor. As a second aim of the present study, we investigate this assertion. We demonstrate that behavioral changes in rodents induced by toxoplasma infection do not represent absolute all-or-none effects. Rather, these effects follow a non-monotonous function dependent on strength of stimulus, roughly resembling an inverted-U curve. Furthermore, infection affects conditioning to cat odor in a manner dependent upon strength of unconditioned stimulus employed. Non-monotonous relationship between behavioral manipulation and strength of cat odor agrees with the suggestion that a dynamic balance exists between benefit obtained and costs incurred by the parasite during the manipulation. This report also demonstrates that toxoplasma affects emotional valence of the cat odor as indicated by altered learned fear induced by cat odor.

Altered host behaviour and brain serotonergic activity caused by acanthocephalans: evidence for specificity

Manipulative parasites can alter the phenotype of intermediate hosts in various ways. However, it is unclear whether such changes are just by-products of infection or adaptive and enhance transmission to the final host. Here, we show that the alteration of serotonergic activity is functionally linked to the alteration of specific behaviour in the amphipod Gammarus pulex infected with acanthocephalan parasites. Pomphorhynchus laevis and, to a lesser extent, Pomphorhynchus tereticollis altered phototactism, but not geotactism, in G. pulex, whereas the reverse was true for Polymorphus minutus. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) injected to uninfected G. pulex mimicked the altered phototactism, but had no effect on geotactism. Photophilic G. pulex infected with P. laevis or P. tereticollis showed a 40% increase in brain 5-HT immunoreactivity compared to photophobic, uninfected individuals. In contrast, brain 5-HT immunoreactivity did not differ between P. minutus-infected and uninfected G. pulex. Finally, brain 5-HT immunoreactivity differed significantly among P. tereticollis-infected individuals in accordance with their degree of manipulation. Our results demonstrate that altered 5-HT activity is not the mere consequence of infection by acanthocephalans but is specifically linked to the disruption of host photophobic behaviour, whereas the alteration of other behaviours such as geotactism may rely on distinct physiological routes.