Trematode Apatemon sp. manipulates behaviour of killifish Nothobranchius furzeri from Mozambique
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| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| Citation | |
| Description | Tropically transferred parasites often affect the behaviour of their intermediate hosts to increase the probability of transmission to the definitive hosts. In this study, we investigated the behaviour of killifish Nothobranchius furzeri from Mozambique naturally infected by larval trematode Apatemon sp. This trematode has complex life cycle that requires the ingestion of the second intermediate host (fish) by the definitive host (piscivorous birds) to complete its life cycle. In naturally infected killifish, metacercariae were located in cerebral cavity that may allow a parasite to effectively manipulate its host. We performed two series of experimental observations to compare behaviour of naturally Apatemon-infected and control killifish: 1) fish reactions to simulated avian attack and 2) fish position in the aquarium without interruption. In both series of observations, the behaviour of infected and control killifish significantly differed. Infected fish frequently remained in the upper third of the aquarium and were in contact with the water surface. After simulated attack, they displayed conspicuous swimming behaviour manifested by multiple jumps above the water surface, rotation and uncoordinated movements. On the contrary, control fish spent most of the time in the lower parts of the aquarium and after the attack the fish reaction manifested by an escape response into the deeper water. The results show that killifish naturally infected by larval trematodes Apatemon sp. display conspicuous behaviour which may facilitate their predation by trematode definitive hosts. |
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