Additional Notes on the Growth ofFasciola hepaticaL. in the Mouse, with Some Remarks about Recent Researches in Belgium

Abstract

95 laboratory bred mice were given orally 5 encysted metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica each and allowed to carry the infection for a minimum of 25 days so as to provide data bearing on the growth of flukes for about 10 days before the attainment of maturity and for some weeks after maturity. The results of these experiments indicate that the 4th and 5th weeks of infection represent a critical time for both the host and the parasite. Some experiments failed, probably on account of the small number of cysts used, and many hosts died during the critical period as a result of damage to the liver, but 60 flukes developed in 34 mice. The time required for the attainment of maturity was confirmed as 35–36 days, and 32 of the flukes from 17 hosts were laying their eggs for periods up to about 14 weeks.