Experimental filariasis in the Syrian hamster; immunological aspects of complex host-parasite interactions.

Abstract

The Syrian hamster has been introduced as an experimental host for a large number of infective agents such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths (1). Only a few researchers, however, have used hamster models to study filarial infections. This is not surprising, since filariae, tissue-dwelling nematodes, are known as highly host-specific parasites of vertebrates and their life cycle can only be completed by selected arthropod vectors. A limited number of filarial species develop in man; some can cause severe disease such as lymphatic filariasis, loiasis and onchocerciasis.KeywordsAdult WormSYRIAN HamsterFemale WormFilarial InfectionFilarial AntigenThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.