Studies onDracunculus medinensis(Linnaeus) I. The Early Migration Route in Experimentally Infected Dogs

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Abstract
1. Ten dogs were given infective larvae ofDracunculus medinensis, originally from human cases in Western Nigeria, and bred in the laboratory inCyclops leuckarti(Claus).2. Parasites were found in seven of the dogs when dissected at intervals between 4 hours and 36 days. From an examination of the location of the larvae obtained, both by direct search and by the use of intravenous Evans' blue, it was concluded that they migrated directly through the tissuesviathe intestinal wall (about 13 hours), abdominal mesenteries (found at 7 and 10 days), and muscles of the abdominal and thoracic wall (15 days). A similar route of migration is believed to take place in cats from an examination of three positive kittens.3. Almost no increase in length of the larvae occurred during the migration; these measured an average of 0·59 mm. in length after 15 days.4. No moult was observed up to 36 days but one may have been missed.