Digenean larvae—the cause and beneficiaries of the changes in host snails’ thermal behavior

Parasite-induced changes in host’s thermal preferences not only can be interpreted as a physiological defense response of the host but also can represent a pathological manifestation of the parasite. Both may become established in host-parasite relationships if they are beneficial for at least one of the counterparts. This study investigates parasite-induced changes in the thermoregulatory behavior of first intermediate hosts of Digenea (i.e. Lymnaea stagnalis and Planorbarius corneus), infected with Notocotylidae or Echinostomatidae larvae. The investigated parasite species developed different transmission strategies outside the body of a snail, which may imply a different effect on the behavior of their hosts. Notocotylus attenuatus in L. stagnalis and Notocotylus ephemera in P. corneus produce symptoms of anapyrexia, prolonging the lifespan of their hosts. By contrast, Echinoparyphium aconiatum in L. stagnalis and Echinostoma spiniferum in P. corneus interfere with defensive thermoregulatory behavior of host snails, causing their accelerated death. The results of laboratory research indicate that thermal preferences of the snails infected with all investigated trematodes facilitate the transmission of the parasites in environment.