The Distribution, Longevity and Sex Ratio of Trichinella spiralis in Hamsters Following an Initial Infection

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Of 72 male golden hamsters approximately 120 days old, 24 were infected with 100 [plus or minus] 5 Trichinella larvae (series I), 48 with 500 [plus or minus] 5 larvae (series II). Three animals of series I and 6 of series II were sacrificed at periods of 1, 2 and 24 hours, 6 and 15 days, and 3, 4 and 5 weeks following the initial dose. Many of the Trichinella had entered the small intestine by the end of the 1st hour and were penetrating its mucosa by the end of the 2nd hour period. The maximum number of adult worms was recovered during the 1st day. In hamsters receiving the larger dose, the Trichinella were eliminated in proportionately greater numbers but they survived for a longer period. Thus in series I and II, respectively, 23.0% and 11.8% had survived by the 6th day, and 0.0% and 1.2% by the 15th day. The sex ratio of the adult worms was 1.8:1 female to male; males were eliminated more rapidly than the females. The number of encysted larvae in series I represented a 29.8:1 and a 36.2:1 ratio of larvae to dosage at the 15th day and 5th week. In series II, however, the ratios were 110.3:1 and 124.9:1 for the same periods of infection.
Keywords