Implantation of adult Onchocerca gutturosa into laboratory rodents

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Abstract
Adult males and females ofOnchocerca gutturosawere implanted into the peritoneal cavity of mice, and their survival was determined at intervals thereafter by post-mortem examination. Ten of 17 animals receiving males dissected free of bovine host tissues contained live parasites at necropsy up to 4 months later. Female worms digested free from connective tissue by collagenase did not survive well, even though they appeared motile and intact before implantation; only 2 were alive 10 days later in 2 of 16 recipients. When males and females still contained within connective tissue capsules were implanted they survived for up to 2 months, and microfilariae were detected transiently in the skin of 2 recipient mice. The results suggest the feasibility of maintaining adultO. gutturosain rodents by this means, provided exposure of worms to enzymes used to free them from host tissue is avoided.

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