Studies on the Lungfluke, Paragonimus iloksuenensis III. Migration, development and egg-production in albino rats

Abstract

Since Chen (1940) gave the first detailed description on the morphological and developmental studies of Paragoηimus iloktsuenensis, additional recognitions to the life cycle, migration and development in the final hosts and susceptibility of the various hosts have also been well established by many investigators in Japan and Taiwan (Miyazaki, 1944; Tomimura et aI. , 1958; Yoshida, 1959; Tomimura et aI. , 1960; Chiu, 1962). In the previous papers (Seo et Koo, 1971; Seo et Kwak, 1972), senior author reported adult worms in house rats, naturally infected and also their observation on the development of this lungfluke in experimentally infected mice and suggested that mouse was less susceptible for obtaining the full maturity of the fluke and no cystic formation in the lungs was recognized. However, there seemed to be little informations in details on the hostparasite relationships of the fluke in the albino rats. In view of the feasibility of albino rats as the most optimum laboratory hosts for the experimental paragonimiasis, the authors have attempted to know the hostparasite relationships in rats, particularly the development and egg-laying capacity of the worm according to the course of infection. The present study summarized observations on the route of migration, development and the egg passage pattern of the worms in experimentally infected albino rats in various stages of infection.