Experimental Trichuriasis. I. Antagonism between Trichuris muris and Aspiculuris tetraptera in the Albino Mouse

Abstract

When naturally acquired infections of Aspiculuris tetraptera and Syphacea obvelata were removed by treatment with piperazine, the susceptibility of mice to infection with Trichuris muris was considerably increased. It was shown experimentally that, in mixed infections, reciprocal antagonism existed between T. muris and A. tetraptera, resulting in reduced burdens of each parasite. The species first established in the mouse was the more successful. In simultaneous infections A. tetraptera was more successful. Some possible mechanisms of interspecific antagonism are discussed.