Parasites, disease, and behaviour

Human activity is altering the environments in which host organisms and agents of infections interact at an unprecedented rate, with significant implications for the establishment of novel interactions and patterns of disease. Many of these anthropogenic impacts are known to alter the behavioural interactions between hosts and the organisms that serve as agents of disease, with profound implications for the establishment and spread of both novel and existing infections. This chapter provides a summary of contemporary behavioural research that is providing insights into the mechanisms involved. This knowledge is now being used to develop mitigation and control strategies for some diseases of human, veterinary, or wildlife importance. However, the diversity of life cycles of the organisms that can cause disease, and the myriad ways in which they respond to a bewildering array of anthropogenic pressures—which can also interact—mean that it is currently challenging to develop a comprehensive, general, or predictive understanding of the role of behaviour in determining patterns of disease in a rapidly changing world. There is therefore an urgent need to improve this understanding through further research, to protect global health and welfare of human, domestic animal, and wildlife populations.