Suppression ofTaenia crassicepsduring concurrent infections withMesocestoides cortiin mice

Abstract

SUMMARYParasite burden (by volume) was measured in female mice of three strains given single or concurrent infections ofMesocestoides cortiandTaenia crassiceps. Significant suppression ofT. crassicepsvolume was observed over a range ofM. cortiinocula and occurred irrespective of whetherM. cortiwas introduced before or after infection withT. crassiceps. Suppression ofT. crassicepsvolume was greatest with larger inocula ofM. cortiand with increased duration ofM. cortiinfection. No significant difference was found in the intraperitoneal volume ofM. cortifrom mice given single or simultaneous concurrent infections ofM. cortiandT. crassiceps. WhenM. cortiwere inoculated into mice with an established infection ofT. crassicepsa significantly smaller volume ofM. cortiwas retrieved at post-mortem from the peritoneal cavities of these mice, than from mice given justM. corti.