Effects of Superinfection on the Behavior of Toxocara canis Larvae in Mice

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Abstract
Each mouse in 4 groups was infected with a total of 2000 Toxocara canis larvae given in 3, 4, 5, or 6 spaced inoculations over a period of 6 weeks and sacrificed 8 weeks after the first inoculation. In 2 control groups, mice were given respectively 2000 and 1000 larvae in single inoculations. The first was sacrificed 8 weeks, the second, 2 weeks after inoculation. While all of the test animals survived, 3 in the 1st control group died. Pepsin and trypsin digests were used for the recovery of larvae from the tissues. The order of decreasing numbers of larvae recovered from various locations was the carcass, liver, brain and lungs for the superinfected and 2-weeks control groups, whereas, in the 8-weeks control group the order was the carcass, brain, liver and lungs. In the superinfected mice there was about 20% lower recovery of the inoculated larvae than in either of the control groups. Superinfection had no apparent effect on the extent of encapsulation throughout the body but did not increase the relative number of encapsulated larvae located in the liver.

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