Population dynamics ofAngiostrongylus cantonensisduring primary infections in rats

Abstract

SUMMARY: About 35 ofAngiostrongylus cantonensislarvae became patent adults irrespective of the dose used to establish primary infections in laboratory rats. Worm growth and fecundity was depressed in infections from high compared with low doses of infective larvae. Rats infected with up to 50A. cantonensislarvae survived infection better than rats given greater numbers of larvae. The biology ofA. cantonensissurviving in laboratory rats from single infections with 50 larvae for over a year was studied. Stable worm numbers and fecundity were established 90 days after infection but the worms continued to grow until the experiment was terminated.