| Summary: | Manipulation of host behaviour by parasites to enhance transmission to the next host is a fascinating phenomenon that interested scientist since the ’70. It has been proposed that infection with the helminth Echinococcus multilocularis in common voles lead to an impaired anti-predator behaviour, which facilitates transmission of the tapeworm to the final host, a canid. We tested whether the behavioural changes of infected common voles are specific to contexts where they would indeed enhance transmission, thus when the protoscoleces (infectious larval stage) are present. For this reason, we selected the 8- and 12-weeks post-infection, the supposed time of the protoscoleces production and maturation, to test our hypothesis. Therefore, we compared the behaviour of voles that were experimentally infected with E. multilocularis eggs and control, through an In-cage Monitoring followed by four behavioural trials, an Open Field Test, a Barrier Test, a Platform Test and a Running Wheel Test. The voles showed an alteration of the anti-predatory behaviour associated to the infection. The results support the behavior manipulation hypothesis and emphasize the importance of parasites for predator-prey interactions. Our findings are a first evidence in elucidating the role of E. multilocularis infection in affecting anti-predatory responses in common voles.
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