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Proc Biol Sci

Title:		Bumble-bee foragers infected by a gut parasite have an impaired ability to utilize floral information
Author(s):		Gegear RJ; Otterstatter MC; Thomson JD;
Address:		"Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada. rjgegear@zoo.utoronto.ca"
Journal Title:		Proc Biol Sci
Year:		2006
Volume:		273
Issue:		1590
Page Number:		1073 - 1078
DOI:		10.1098/rspb.2005.3423
ISSN/ISBN:		0962-8452 (Print) 1471-2954 (Electronic) 0962-8452 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Parasitic infection can influence a variety of behavioural mechanisms in animals, but little is known about the effects of infection on the cognitive processes underlying ecologically relevant behaviours. Here, we examined whether parasitic infection alters cognitive aspects of foraging in a social insect, the bumble-bee (Bombus impatiens). In controlled experiments, we assessed the ability of foraging bees to discriminate rewarding from non-rewarding flowers on the basis of colour and odour. We found that natural and experimental infection by a protozoan parasite (Crithidia bombi, which lives exclusively within the gut tract), impaired the ability of foragers to learn the colour of rewarding flowers. Parasitic infection can thus disrupt central nervous system pathways that mediate cognitive processes in bumble-bees and as a consequence, can reduce their ability to monitor floral resources and make economic foraging decisions. It is postulated that this infection-induced change to cognitive function in bumble-bees is the result of communication between immune and nervous systems. Parasitized animals, including invertebrates, can therefore show subtle behavioural changes that are nonetheless ecologically significant and reflect complex mechanisms"
Keywords:		"Animals Bees/immunology/*parasitology/physiology Behavior, Animal/physiology Color Crithidia/*physiology Feeding Behavior/physiology Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology Odorants;"
Notes:		"MedlineGegear, Robert J Otterstatter, Michael C Thomson, James D eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2006/04/08 Proc Biol Sci. 2006 May 7; 273(1590):1073-8. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3423"