The effect of the tapeworm Hymenolepis nana on immunity to tuberculosis in mice

Abstract

SUMMARYMice which carried the tapeworm Hymenolepis nana gave anomalous results when they were infected with tubercle bacilli. Males died earlier than females. The cause of death in some was intussusception or acute enteritis. More tapeworm eggs were excreted in the faeces of male mice, and, for each sex, egg counts were higher in BCG-vaccinated animals.This work forms part of the studies on immunity to tuberculosis for a Ph.D. thesis, and was carried out while I was in receipt of a Harrison-Watson Studentship of Clare College and a Welcome Fellowship of the Animal Health Trust.