Survival of Protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus at Constant Temperatures

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of storage at constant temperatures upon the survival of protoscolices of E. granulosus from hydatid cysts removed from infected sheep were studied. Parallel tests were conducted on intact cysts from lung and liver, and on protoscolices stored within 1-ml samples of hydatid fluid. The longest survival times of any of the samples tested at each temperature were: -20.degree. C, 1 h; -10.degree. C, 4 h; 1.degree. C, 16 days; 10.degree. C, 16 days; 20.degree. C, 8 days; 30.degree. C, 4 days; 40.degree. C, 2 days and 50.degree. C, 2 h. Generally, protoscolices survived considerably better when stored within intact cysts than in 1 ml of hydatid fluid. At temperature ranges where putrefaction occurred, protoscolices in cysts from lung survived longer than those from liver. The ability of these protoscolices to survive extended periods of time after an infected sheep has died or been killed suggests that stringent preventive and control measures should be established in areas where hydatid disease is endemic. Animal pits at community dumping grounds where sheep carcasses might be discarded should be enclosed or covered, and all stray and roving dogs in those regions should be rigidly controlled.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: