Effect of Cobalt 60 and X-ray on Infectivity of Cysticercoids of Hymenolepis diminuta

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Abstract
Tests were conducted to determine the amount of cobalt 60 or X-ray that was necessary to render cysticercoids of Hymenolepis diminuta, non-infective. Cysticercoids were obtained by feeding flour beetles (Tribolium confusum) with infective eggs from the tapeworm; the cysts recovered from the beetles were irradiated, and counted numbers were fed to white rats to determine their ability to produce tapeworms. A dose of 12,000 roentgens equivalent physical (rep) cobalt 60 or 12,000 roentgens (r) X-ray prevented most cysticercoids from developing to tapeworms; the few tapeworms that developed were stunted or sexually sterile. Doses of 15,000 rep cobalt 60 or 15,000 r X-ray generally prevented cysticercoids from developing into adult tapeworms.