Variable maturation and oviposition by female Schistosoma japonicum in mice: the effects of irradiation of the host prior to infection

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5719768

Cheever, A W; Duvall, R H

The maturation of female Schistosoma japonicum was found to vary greatly within each of two Philippine strains of this parasite and some females did not contain uterine eggs 7 to 15 weeks after infection while others contained numerous eggs before the fifth week of infection. It was found that female worms containing less than 20 uterine eggs contributed little to the accumulation of eggs in the tissues of infected mice. Such worms also generally appeared to be immature. The variable rate of maturation of worms is likely to have profound effects on the immune reactions of mice as well as on the pathologic response to infection. Systematic delay in oviposition was serendipitously found in worms from mice which had been irradiated for other purposes prior to exposure to S. japonicum, and from the fourth to the sixth week after infection egg production by worms in irradiated mice lagged well behind that in intact mice. Seven to 10 weeks after infection these worms were laying normal numbers of eggs, as judged by egg passage per worm pair in the feces and the accumulation of eggs in the tissues. S. mansoni developed normally in irradiated mice.

• Research Organization: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 5719768
• Journal Information: Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.; (United States) Vol. 37:3; ISSN AJTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
EGGS
GLANDS
HELMINTHS
IMMUNE REACTIONS
INFECTIVITY
IRRADIATION
LIVER
MAMMALS
MICE
ORGANS
PLATYHELMINTHS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RODENTS
SCHISTOSOMA
TREMATODES
VERTEBRATES