Abstract
A single cysticercoid of Hymenolepis microstoma, the mouse bile duct tapeworm, was fed via stomach tube to an HA/ICR strain albino mouse. After 20 days, gravid proglottids of the resulting adult worm (parental, or P generation) were fed to flour beetles, Tribolium confusum; 30 days later, one F 1 cysticercoid from the beetles was fed to each of 10 mice. Gravid F 1 proglottids were subsequently recovered and fed to beetles as above. This procedure was repeated for 14 selfed generations without an apparent change in viability of either eggs or cysticercoids. The infection rate for 14 generations averaged 89%, varying from 80 to 100%. This rate approximated the 70–80% infection rate obtained from multiplyinfected mice. Morphological analysis of worms of all generations showed change in one parameter only, a slight increase in number of gravid proglottids with repeated selfing. The 14th generation resembled random-bred controls in all characteristics measured. The viability of selfed H. microstoma contrasts with that of selfed H. nana, as reported by earlier workers AND this difference may have evolutionary and immunological significance.
Published Version
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