Impacts of a newly identified behaviour-altering trematode on its host amphipod: from the level of gene expression to population

Yasmin Guler, Stephen Short, Amaia Green Etxabe, Christopher M. Sherhod, Peter Kille, Alex T. Ford

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    Abstract

    Changes to host behaviour induced by some trematode species, as a means of increased trophic transmission, represents one of the seminal examples of host manipulation by a parasite. The amphipod Echinogammarus marinus (Leach, 1815) is infected with a previously undescribed parasite, with infected individuals displaying positive phototaxic and negative geotaxic behaviour. This study reveals that the unknown parasite encysts in the brain, nerve cord and the body cavity of E. marinus, and belongs to the Microphallidae family. An 18 month population study revealed that host abundance significantly and negatively correlated with parasite prevalence. Investigation of the trematode's influence at the transcriptomic level revealed genes with putative neurological functions, such as serotonin receptor 1A, an inebriated-like neurotransmitter, tryptophan hydroxylase and amino acid decarboxylase, present consistent altered expression in infected animals. Therefore, this study provides one of the first transcriptomic insights into the neuronal gene pathways altered in amphipods infected with a trematode parasite associated with changes to its host's behaviour and population structure.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1469-1480
    JournalParasitology
    Volume142
    Issue number12
    Early online date18 Aug 2015
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2015

    Keywords

    • RCUK
    • NERC
    • NE/G004587/1
    • parasitic-manipulation
    • host behaviour
    • neurological genes
    • serotonin
    • amphipods

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