Interactions of the cysticercoids of Hymenolepis diminuta and Raillietina cesticillus in their intermediate host, Tribolium confusum

Abstract

This study was based on the experimental exposure of beetles to homologous and heterologous infections of H. diminuta and R. cesticillus. The results demonstrated that, for both species over the range of parasite densities employed, the presence of a primary infection had no effect on the establishment success of an homologous challenge infection. The establishment success of R. cesticillus cysticercoids was not affected by the presence of an H. diminuta infection. The existence of an R. cesticillus infection, however, severely reduced the establishment success of an H. diminuta infection. The reduction in H. diminuta establishment was greatest in R. cesticillus infections < 10 days old. The plausibility of some of the mechanisms that are potentially responsible for the reduction in H. diminuta establishment success is discussed, as is the possible ecological significance of these results.