Feeding and lipid synthesis of Ancylostoma tubaeforme preinfective larvae

Abstract

The growth curve, rate of neutral unbound lipid synthesis, and relationship between morphogenesis and lipid reserve have been studied at 30 °C. The feeding process, including a theoretical calculation of bacterial requirements of preinfective larvae, is presented, together with some measurements of the most important variables in ingestion, expulsion of water through the anus, and its dependence on larval posture is described.Larval stages have been tracked on agar; L1 are so inactive that no tracks were obtained; L2 show short, irregular tracks, and infective larvae strong, long and straighter tracks. The locomotory activity of L2s is primarily for feeding, whereas L2s are adapted for dispersion and host location.I thank Mr J. M. Smith for tracking the larvae and Mrs Helen Foreman for staining them, Dr Elizabeth U. Canning for making available the scanning microdensitometer and Professor G. S. Nelson and Dr D. A. Denham for enabling us to establish A. tubaeforme in cats. Finally the generous support of the British Medical Research Council is appreciated.