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Host age and the growth and fecundity of Hymenolepis diminuta in the rat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

R. J. Quinnell
R. J. Quinnell*
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, The Molteno Institute, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EE, UK
*
*Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
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Abstract

Five, 20, and 80 cysticercoid infections of Hymenolepis diminuta were established in 1-, 2- and 5-month-old male Wistar rats. Worm numbers, dry weights and egg outputs were determined on day 28 post infection. Worm recovery was found to be independent of cysticercoid dose in 1-month-old rats, but density-dependent in older rats. Density dependence affected both worm dry weight and egg production in all 3 age classes of host studied. However, at the highest dose both dry weight and egg production were significantly decreased in 2- and 5-month-old rats compared with 1-month-old rats. The results cannot be explained solely in terms of competition for a resource, and suggest that immunological mechanisms may have an important role in the “crowding effect”.

Keywords

Hymenolepis diminutacrowding effectimmunitycompetitionhost age
Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 62 , Issue 2 , June 1988 , pp. 158 - 162
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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