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Wild Rodents as Experimental Intermediate Hosts of Lagochilascaris minor Leiper, 1909
Julieta Machado Paçô; Dulcinéa Maria Barbosa Campos & Jayrson Araújo de Oliveira
Abstract
A total of 25 specimens of Cavia porcellus (guinea
pig), 5 Dasyprocta agouti (agouti), and 22 Calomys
callosus (vesper mice)were inoculated with infective
eggs of Lagochilascaris minor. The inoculum was prepared
with embryonated eggs and orally administered to each individual
animal through an esophagus probe. In parallel, 100 specimens of
Felis catus domesticus were individually fed with 55-70
nodules containing 3rd-stage larvae encysted in tissues of infected
rodents. Animals were examined and necropsied at different time
intervals. The migration and encystment of L3 larva was observed in
viscera, skeletal muscle, adipose and subcutaneous tissues from all
rodents. Adult worms localized at abscesses in the cervical region,
rhino, and oropharynx were recovered from domestic cats inoculated
with infected rodent tissues. Through this study we can conclude
that: (1) wild rodents act as intermediate hosts, characterizing
this ascarid heteroxenic cycle; (2) in natural conditions
rodents could possibly act as either intermediate hosts or
paratenic hosts of Lagochilascaris minor; (3) despite the
occurrence of an auto-infecting cycle, in prime-infection of
felines (definite hosts) the cycle is only completed when
intermediate hosts are provided; and (4) in the wild, rodents could
serve as a source of infection for humans as they are frequently
used as food in regions with the highest incidence of human
lagochilascariasis.
Keywords
Lagochilascaris minor - heteroxenic cycle - intermediate host - paratenic host
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