Outrageously Funny Word Definitions :: Behavioral Infection

👉 Behavioral infection, also known as behavioral manipulation, refers to a phenomenon where certain pathogens or parasites alter the behavior of their hosts to enhance their own transmission and survival. This can involve changes in the host's decision-making, movement, or social interactions. For example, infected animals might become more aggressive, less cautious, or exhibit altered mating behaviors, all of which can increase the likelihood of spreading the pathogen to new hosts. In some cases, such as with the parasitic hairworm
Spinochordodes tellinii
, infected crickets are driven to jump into water, where the worm can complete its life cycle. Behavioral infections highlight the intricate evolutionary adaptations between pathogens and their hosts, often at the expense of the host's well-being.

behavioral:infection