Abstract
Pathogens can manipulate the phenotypic traits of their hosts and vectors, maximizing their own fitness. Among the phenotypic traits that can be modified, manipulating vector behavior represents one of the most fascinating facets. How pathogens infection affects behavioral traits of key insect vectors has been extensively investigated. Major examples include Plasmodium, Leishmania and Trypanosoma spp. manipulating the behavior of mosquitoes, sand flies and kissing bugs, respectively. However, research on how pathogens can modify tick behavior is patchy. This review focuses on current knowledge about the behavioral changes triggered by Anaplasma, Borrelia, Babesia, Bartonella, Rickettsia and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in tick vectors, analyzing their potential adaptive significance. As a general trend, being infected by Borrelia and TBEV boosts tick mobility (both questing and walking activity). Borrelia and Anaplasma infection magnifies Ixodes desiccation resistance, triggering physiological changes (Borrelia: higher fat reserves; Anaplasma: synthesis of heat shock proteins). Anaplasma infection also improves cold resistance in infected ticks through synthesis of an antifreeze glycoprotein. Being infected by Anaplasma, Borrelia and Babesia leads to increased tick survival. Borrelia, Babesia and Bartonella infection facilitates blood engorgement. In the last section, current challenges for future studies are outlined.
Highlights
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are caused by parasites, bacteria and viruses, leading to more than 700,000 deaths yearly [1]
This review focuses on current knowledge about the behavioral changes triggered by Anaplasma, Borrelia, Babesia, Bartonella, Rickettsia and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in tick vectors, analyzing their potential adaptive significance
The present review focuses on current knowledge on the behavioral changes triggered by Anaplasma, Borrelia, Babesia, Bartonella, Rickettsia and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in tick vectors, with a focus on their potential adaptive significance and related fitness implications
Summary
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are caused by parasites, bacteria and viruses, leading to more than 700,000 deaths yearly [1]. A classic example is represented by Plasmodium infection making host-borne odors more attractive to Anopheles mosquitoes [9,10,11] (but see [12]). It has been stressed that manipulation of vector phenotypic traits is more widespread among parasites characterized by a complex life cycle The latter require a longer and complicated series of events to complete the life cycle, which can be completed more through host manipulation [27,43,44]. This scenario may fit ticks vectoring pathogens responsible of tick-borne diseases. The present review focuses on current knowledge on the behavioral changes triggered by Anaplasma, Borrelia, Babesia, Bartonella, Rickettsia and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in tick vectors, with a focus on their potential adaptive significance and related fitness implications
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