Annotated Bibliography (3 of 3)

Sebastian A. Baldauf, Timo Thu¨nken, Joachim G. Frommen, Theo C.M. Bakker, Oliver Heupel, Harald Kullmann. 2007. Infection with an acanthocephalan manipulates an amphipod’s reaction to a fish predator’s odours. International Journal for Parasitology 37: 61–65

This interesting article experimentally demonstrated a scenario where an acanthocephalan parasite exhibits behavioural modification on its intermediary host. The experiment consisted of amphipods which were either infected with acanthocephalan parasites, or parasite free and subjected them to olfactory stimulant which simulates the presence of a predatory fish. In their results, the un-infected amphipods retreated from the stimulus while the infected amphipods swam directly toward the scent. This change in behaviour is thought to be a mechanism to which the acanthocephalans use to increase the chance they will be taken up by their secondary host.
As to how the acanthocephalans actually manipulate the host behaviour, the article did not cove extensively; however, they did mention a similar situation where another parasitic species physically manipulated a nerve ganglion in its host in order to change its behaviour... creepy.