Any warm-blooded species can be affected by toxoplasma gondii. In lab studies, infections with T. gondii have been shown to increase dopamine and testosterone levels in animals. And humans.
It has not been studied in the wild, so some researchers decided to look at how infections affect gray wolves in the park. It was found that the odds of a wolf becoming a pack leader are more than four times higher if it is a positive wolf.
The samples have been taken from the wolves. The scientists tried to correlate the presence of antibodies against the parasites with demographic factors and specific behaviors of the wolves. The relationship between the two is complicated by the fact that the parasites can persist for a long time after infections.
Gray wolves are intermediate hosts and definitive hosts of T. gondii. The two carnivores are competing for the same prey in the northern part of the park. Living in an area of high cougar overlap was more likely to cause a wolf to be bitten by the parasites than any other factor.
AdvertisementWolves with antibodies against the parasites were more likely to leave their packs and start their own. Aggressive and risky wolf behavior is defined as pursuing both of these courses of action.
Pack leaders have a disproportionate effect on the decisions they make. Pack leaders have a reproductive advantage and risk-taking leaders may be less hesitant to lead their packs into territory where they can pick up their own infections.
Wolves learn from their leader's behavior. Even though only a few key individuals are actually infections, pack leaders can still yield a more assertive, risk-embracing pack culture.
Increased engagement in risky behaviors is dangerous, so some of the wolves that are hyper aggressive are more likely to die. The selfish genes that dictate their behavior and fate are not their own. They are parasites.
Communications biology will be done in 2022. There is a DOI titled " 10.1038/s4 2003-022-041".
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