A Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Host Personality Traits and Parasitic Infection

Parasitism plays an important role in many fundamental ecological processes and is widespread both geographically and taxonomically. Interactions between parasites and hosts are often complex, and much attention has been paid to the relationship between host traits and parasitism. However, a comprehensive review of the association between host personality and parasitic infection is lacking. In this review, we systematically synthesized 54 studies published over the past few decades. Generally, the relationship between animal personality traits and parasitic infection is complex, and no generic pattern exists. Many biological processes may be involved, and biological factors (such as host sex and parasite type) may significantly shape the personality–infection relationship. Different personality traits may also indicate different relationships with parasitic infection. We confirmed that host personality and parasitic infection exhibit a mutually influential, multi-feedback dynamic. Finally, several research gaps were described, and we emphasized the importance of incorporating the BACI design in experiments.