Ultrastructural aspects of capsule formation in Trichinella spiralis infection in the rat

Abstract

The encapsulation of Trichinella spiralis larvae in host striated muscle was studied.Capsule formation starts at 13 days post-infection. Between days 20–50 p.i. the largest increase in capsule formation was observed. The capsule is exclusively, or almost exclusively, formed from and by the infected muscle fibre, as might be concluded from the presence of the sarcolemmal basal lamina surrounding the capsule substance during the initial stages of capsule formation. A collagen nature of the capsule cannot be excluded.