Parasitic Autotomy of the Host as a mode of liberation of Coelomic Parasites from the Body of the Earthworm

Abstract

The various suggestions concerning the mode of spreading of Monocystid Gregarines parasitic in earthworms have been already summarised by Minchin (1903), Hesse (1909) and more recently by Bhatia (1924). The last named author seemed to find that the spores from the vesicula seminalis may escape during copulation with the seminal fluid, may be transferred to the receptacula seminis to appear finally inside the cocoon of the earthworm. This observation has led him to suppose that the earthworm may become infected before it emerges from the cocoon. He does not, however, consider this mode of infection as the principal one, but accepts the general view that the majority of spores are set free only after the death of the worm and the complete disintegration of its body.