Abstract
Infective third-stage larvae of three spiruroid nematodes, Ascarops strongylina and Physocephalus sexalatus of pigs and Spirocerca lupi of dogs, were recovered from 14 species of coprophagous beetles belonging to 4 different genera. These larvae were fed to rabbits and/or guinea pigs to study their development in these experimental hosts. Larvae of A. strongylina reached the adult stage in all rabbits and one guinea pig. The adult worms recovered in these hosts were 40% and 4%, respectively, and became diminutive in comparison to their natural hosts. The larvae of P. sexalatus became reencysted in the gastric wall of rabbits inducing marked pathological changes. The infective larvae of S. lupi became reencapsulated in the stomach wall of the rabbit and also showed development in the aortic wall. Adults of Toxocara canis of dog, collected from 5 different regions of the Indian subcontinent, varied significantly in size. The mouse passage of infective larvae of one of these types led to the recovery of the adults from the experimental dogs that were smaller in size and caused severe pathology in natural experimental hosts. Developmental effects shown in experimental hosts and host specificity are of value in understanding the evolution of nematode parasitism.
Highlights
Host-parasite interactions by parasitism remained unexplained till 20th century
The infective larvae were administered with the help of a stomach tube to the experimental and natural hosts, namely, rabbit, Table 1: Experimental infection of laboratory animals with spiruroid nematodes
The experimental infection of A. strongylina in rabbit and guinea pigs showed a marked difference in development and recovery of the parasite
Summary
Graham Bell and Austin Bert from Canada hypothesized the term, “a recombination, favoured by antagonistic” coevolution between the host and the parasite [1] It was further defined as the resultant product of ecological, sociological, and physiological causes [2]. The nature of the parasite, ambient conditions, and the host infected are the key factors determining the outcome of such a relationship in terms of virulence, pathogenicity, reproductive potential, maturity of the parasite, and the response of the host. In this communication, experimental results on development of some larval nematodes in natural and experimental animal hosts have been discussed in connection to host-parasite relationship
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