The study of pathogenicity of haemoprotozoa and the pathogenesis of the diseases they cause requires quantitative descriptions. Statistical and mathematical methods are introduced to describe infectivity, parasitaemia, total body parasitosis and the severity of diseases.

These studies were aimed at giving a clearer idea of the source of the antigens responsible for the induction of resistance by larval schistosomes. Firstly, the resistance induced by radiation-attenuated (20 krad.) infections was compared with that induced by the larval phase of unirradiated infections. The superiority of the irradiated larvae was demonstrated by infecting mice with 500 female cercariae which were either unirradiated or irradiated, and challenging them 3 weeks later with male cercariae. At perfusion, when primary and challenge worms could be distinguished by sex, significantly greater resistance was demonstrated in the groups vaccinated with irradiated larvae (56 cf. 31% and 48 cf. 26% in two experiments). Secondly, in order to establish how long immunizing larvae need to survive to stimulate optimum resistance, mice were either treated with schistosomulicidal drugs or had the site of infection excised at various intervals post-vaccination. Treatment or excision at up to 24 h did not result in significant resistance to challenge (6–16%). Similar treatments at 1 week did not prevent significant resistance developing (26–37%) but the levels of resistance were significantly lower than those manifest by vaccinated, untreated mice (51–71%). It is concluded that the immunizing larvae need to persist for between 1 and 2 weeks in order to stimulate optimum protection and that antigens released during protracted survival and/or death of the larvae in either the skin or the lungs are probably key factors in the induction of resistance.

In 1945 Sproston stated that an alternation of sexual phases takes place in Kuhnia scombri, a monogenean of Scomber scombrus, but an examination of egg-laying, the state of the sexual organs and the presence of sperms in this parasite at various times of the year have shown that there is no evidence for the existence of such a phenomenon. Sproston's observations are examined with particular reference to problems in measuring the length of the parasite and to the unreliability of using the presence or absence of eggs in the uterus as an index of femaleness.

Freeze fracture study of Schistosoma mansoni membrane differentiation enabled us to describe the characteristic features of the tegumental membrane complex at various stages of development of this parasite. The observation of a membrane exuviation during the 10–20 day period of infection of the definitive host led us to search for possible hormonal control. The development of an appropriate radioimmunoassay has allowed the detection of significant production of ecdysteroids in a human platyhelminth. This hormonal material undergoes level variation during the development of post-cercarial stages of S. mansoni and its precise chemical characterization is presently being investigated.

The most efficient procedure for cryopreserving viable Babesia bovis organisms for in vitro cultivation consists of freezing extracellular parasites in a solution of 10% (w/v) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) using a cooling rate of 20 °C/min. Although cultures can be established from thawed infected erythrocytes, the plating efficiency is relatively low. Freezing extracellular parasites resulted in plating efficiency up to 25%, when thawed and placed in culture. Glycerin or dimethyl sulphoxide (Me2SO) can be used successfully in the cryopreservation of B. bovis, but apparent toxic effects greatly decrease their efficiency. B. bovis parasites have been kept at − 196 °C for 60 days with no appreciable reduction in plating efficiency.

Notocotylus triserialis bears three rows of eversible papillae on its ventral surface. These papillae, which in living worms are firmly applied to the host mucosa, contain numerous pyriform cells. Histochemical tests indicate the presence, within the papillar cells, of protein, lipid, haemoglobin and esterase, and the absence of carbohydrate, acid mucopolysaccharide, RNA, haemosiderin and acid and alkaline phosphatase. Transmission electron microscopy shows the tegument of the papillae to be similar to the non-papillar ventral tegument. The pyriform cells contain many mitochondria with numerous cristae. A mechanism is proposed whereby the musculature of the worm effects the retraction and eversion of the ventral papillae.

Experimental infections of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos L.) with Typhlocoelum cucumerinum sisowi (Skrjabin, 1913) and of canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria (Wilson)) with Typhlocoelum cucumerinum cucumerinum (Rudolphi, 1809) revealed significant differences in various parameters of the life-cycle in the definitive host. Both T. c. sisowi and T. c. cucumerinum migrate to the trachea via the abdominal cavity, air sacs and lungs, although T. c. cucumerinum migrate more quickly and more synchronously than T. c. sisowi. Typhlocoelum c. sisowi has a shorter expected life-span than T. c. cucumerinum but grows and reaches maturity more quickly than T. c. cucumerinum. Evidence suggests that T. c. cucumerinum has a higher fecundity than T. c. sisowi. These differences in the patterns of migration, growth and development are related not only to differences between the two host species but also to differences intrinsic to the parasites, and serve to provide biological support for considering them as separate sub-species.

The regulation of helminth populations tends to occur primarily as a result of limitations imposed on the build up of parasite subpopulations within individual hosts (Anderson & May, 1979; May & Anderson, 1979). Considering the relevance of these factors to the success or otherwise of intestinal helminth control programmes, it is perhaps surprising that more information is not yet available concerning the particular mechanisms which may be responsible, and in particular, the population consequences of the immune responses which such parasites may precipitate. Density-dependence in a single rate parameter, if operative over the naturally observed numerical range, is sufficient to regulate parasite population flow throughout the life-cycle, whether direct or indirect (Anderson, 1976). For the genera given in Table 1, this could be provided by the observed pattern of parasite mortality and/or fecundity. It is of interest to note, however, that circumstantial evidence cited in the Table suggests that each of the 6 genera is also potentially able to induce host mortality under certain conditions. Whether this acts in a density-dependent manner in natural infections is almost entirely unknown. Rapid reproduction may be of great selective advantage to intestinal helminths, even if it is necessarily accompanied by pathogenicity (see Anderson, 1981). If the manner in which this pathogenicity acts in any way enhances the stability of the host-parasite interaction, then perhaps it may have contributed to the selection pressures which have led so many genera to continue to break the rules of the ‘well-adapted’ parasite (see, for example, Noble & Noble, 1971).

The influence of temperature and salinity on miracidial longevity and miracidial infectivity of the digenean, Himasthla militaris, has been examined. At 14, 25 and 30 °C the half-life of the miracidia was 1200, 630 and 420 min respectively, and infection of the first intermediate host, Hydrobia ventrosa, only occurred at 25 and 30 °C, for both temperatures 52% became infected. In the range 2·1 to 34‰ (2·1, 4·2, 8·5, 17 and 34‰) the miracidia had a minimal and maximal half-life of 60 and 630 min in water with a salinity of 2·1 and 17‰ respectively, while the infection of the snail host was possible only in water with a salinity of 8·5 and 17‰.

With few exceptions, the specific activities of the glycolytic enzymes and the steady-state content of glycolytic and associated intermediates in protoscoleces of the horse (E.g.H) and sheep (E.g.S) strains of Echinococcus granulosus and the closely related E. multilocularis (E.m.) are very similar. Phosphorylase, hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase catalyse non-equilibrium reactions and the patterns of activity for pyruvate kinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and malic enzyme are similar in the three organisms. The levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates in E.g.H., E.g.S. and E.m. are of the same order as those reported in tissues with an active cycle. Each has a complete sequence of cycle enzymes but there are substantial differences between the three parasites with regard to the activity of individual enzymes, The activities of NAD and NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenases are significantly lower in E.g.H. than in E.g.S. and particularly in E.m. which suggests that the tricarboxylic acid cycle may play a more important role in carbohydrate metabolism and energy production in the latter parasites. Nevertheless, the three organisms utilize fermentative pathways for alternative energy production, fix carbon dioxide via phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and have a partial reversed tricarboxylic acid cycle. It is speculated that in vivo more carbon will be channelled towards oxaloacetate than pyruvate at the phosphoenolpyruvate branch point. The steady state content of ATP and the ATP/AMP ratios are low in the three organisms, suggesting a low rate of ATP utilization in each.

Acid proteases hydrolysing haemoglobin, first described by Timms & Bueding (1959), were studied to investigate the interspecific and intraspecific distribution in adult parasitic helminths. Acid protease activity was detected in a variety of adult helminths, irrespective of their habitats, namely, parasitic nematodes, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Dirofilaria immitis, Trichuris muris and Ascaris suum, a trematode, Paramphistomum sp. and cestodes, Diphyllobothrium erinacei and Hymenolepis nana. Much higher specific activity was observed in the blood nematodes, A. cantonensis and D. immitis than in the gastro-intestinal helminths examined. The intraspecific distribution of the acid protease activity within organs was studied in those nematodes from which the organs could be anatomically separated. The highest specific activity was observed in the intestine of A. cantonensis, D. immitis and A. suum. The activity was also found in other organs of these nematodes, namely, the reproductive organs and the body wall, but to a much lesser extent. The pH optima for the hydrolysis of haemoglobin were found to be in the pH range of 3·1 to 4·6. Each of the enzyme solutions from the 7 species of helminths hydrolysed haemoglobin faster than the other proteins examined but some activity on myoglobin, casein, albumin and other proteins was demonstrated. Pepstatin, a potent inhibitor of carboxyl proteases, inhibited the hydrolysis of haemoglobin by the acid proteases of the 7 species of the parasites. Acid protease activity from A. cantonensis and A. suum was not inhibited in the presence of thiol-, serine- and metallo-protease inhibitors at a concentration of 10−6 M. This fact, together with the inhibitory effect of pepstatin, suggests that the enzyme activity is likely to be due to carboxyl protease(s). Acid proteases such as cathepsin D and pepsin were simultaneously used for comparison of some enzymological characteristics. The substrate specificity of the enzyme solutions from the helminths seemed to resemble that of cathepsin D rather than that of pepsin. The effects of pH and pepstatin on the acid protease activity of the helminths were similar to those on pepsin and cathepsin D.

Abomasal and duodenal motility was investigated by electromyography in 4 lambs fitted with permanent abomasal and duodenal cannulae and infected twice with 25000 Haemonchus contortus larvae at an interval of 39 days. In addition, abomasal and duodenal pH, flow rate of digesta of the duodenum, and faecal water content were determined. The 80–90 min cycles of antral contractions were shortened for at least 3 weeks after infection. This was accompanied by a 26% increase in the number of duodenal migrating myoelectric complexes/day during the intra-parietal development of the larvae (10–12 days). Concomitantly, the duodenal flow of digesta increased from 215 ± 22 ml/h to 318 ± 15 ml/h 4 days after infection and was associated with a higher water content of the faeces. The frequency of the migrating myoelectric complexes, but not the duration of antral motor cycles (or the duodenal flow rate), was correlated with both gastric (P < 0·01) and duodenal (P < 0·05) pH after the first and second infections. The duodenal flow rate was correlated with the Cl− concentration of the abomasal contents (P < 0·01) and with the duodenal pH (P < 0·05). It is concluded that, (i) the duodenal motor disturbances associated with experimental H. contortus infection are related to the alterations in abomasal gastric acid secretion which occurs during the histotrophic phase of larval development and (ii) the increased duodenal flow is a consequence of ionic permeability changes of the gastro-intestinal mucosae.

The amastigote form of the human pathogen Leishmania mexicana contains high proteinase activity, some 20 times greater than that in the promastigote form and macrophages and appreciably higher than the activity in other flagellate protozoa. The main amastigote enzymes are soluble, whereas those of the promastigote are particulate, and have inhibitor sensitivities characteristic of cysteine proteinases. The very high soluble proteinase activity of L. mexicana amastigotes may be a primary factor in the survival and growth of this mammalian stage in its potentially degradative intracellular habitat.

Intraspecific pairing of Haematoloechus medioplexus and Echinostoma revolutum adults and interspecific pairing of H. medioplexus and E. revoltum adults were studied in vitro at 21 ± 1 °C and 30 ± 1 °C in Petri-dish cultures containing an agar substrate and a Locke's 1:1 solution overlay. Salinity and temperature tolerance tests showed that both species survived for 24 h in a Locke's 1:1 solution at 21 ± 1 °C and 30 ±1 °C. For behaviour studies, worms were placed 2 cm apart and then observed at various intervals from 5 min to 4 h. H. medioplexus and E. revolutum showed significant intraspecific pairing at 30±1 °C, whereas only H. medioplexus paired significantly at 21±1°C. Significant interspecific pairing of H. medioplexus and E. revolutum occurred at 21 ±1 °C and 30 ±1 °C. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis showed that H. medioplexus adults released mainly free sterol, along with traces of triacylglycerols and free fatty acids into a non-nutrient medium.

Survival of Hymenolepis diminuta eggs (as measured by their infectivity to the intermediate host) was found to be age-dependent with an expected value of 11 days when the eggs were retained within the faecal pellet at 10 °C. The expected life-span of eggs under experimental conditions (i.e. extracted from faecal material and placed on filter paper at 30 °C) was estimated as 33 min. The mean parasite burden of populations of Tribolium exposed to known densities of H. diminuta eggs was found to rise to a plateau with increasing exposure time. The experimental results provided a method of estimating the instantaneous rate of parasite transmission: a value of 0·0004/egg/min/host/13 cm2 was obtained. The mean parasite burden of populations of T. confusum exposed to known densities of H. diminuta eggs was found to decrease exponentially with increasing host density. A second estimate of the instantaneous rate of parasite transmission of 0·004/egg/min/host/13 cm2 was obtained from the experimental results. No differences in susceptibility to infection between 2-week-old male and female beetles were found. A marked decrease, however, was apparent with increasing beetle age up to 14 weeks post-eclosion.