Survival and Developmental Aberrations in Schistosoma mansoni following the Administration of Stilbestrol to the Hosts

Abstract

Schistosoma mansoni developing in mouse hosts subjected to frequent, heavy doses of stilbestrol show five effects: their normal survival rate is much reduced; the parasites for the most part remain in the liver past the time at which they normally migrate to mesenteric veins; both sexes develop to sexual maturity more slowly, if at all; a high proportion of the males have accessory gonadal tissue which probably is mainly ovarian; and the male worms average less than two-thirds as long as controls.