ABSTRACT
Stem cell frequency, wet weight, proglottid number, and egg production were measured in Hymenolepis citelli at specific intervals between 20 and 120 days postinfection in an effort to correlate changes in stem cell frequency to other developmental parameters. Considerable variability was seen in wet weight and proglottid number, but differences did not seem to reflect any relation between these parameters and stem cell frequency. Significant differences were observed in egg production at specific postinfection periods. These appeared to correspond to changes seen in stem cell frequency during patency. Similar changes in egg production which also correspond to measured changes in stem cell frequency were recorded for Hymenolepis diminuta. Differences were also seen in number of eggs contained within gravid proglottids at various times postinfection for both species.
Subject(s)
Hymenolepiasis/parasitology , Hymenolepis/growth & development , Animals , Cricetinae , Female , Hymenolepis/cytology , Hymenolepis/physiology , Male , Mesocricetus , Ovum/physiology , Parasite Egg Count , Rats , Rats, Inbred Strains , Stem Cells/cytologyABSTRACT
Changes in the frequency of germinative cells were measured daily during prepatent development in five-worm infections of Hymenolepis diminuta as well as at regular intervals during patency in five- and 20-worm infections. Frequency changes of this cell were found to correlate closely to the normal growth pattern of this cestode during prepatent development. Significant changes were also seen to occur during patency. However, the pattern of these changes appeared to be modified as the number of worms per host increased. By 90 days postinfection, cestodes recovered from 20-worm infections could be divided into two populations of distinctly different sizes. Significant differences in germinative cell frequency also occurred between these two populations.
Subject(s)
Hymenolepiasis/parasitology , Hymenolepis/growth & development , Animals , Body Weight , Hymenolepis/cytology , Male , Rats , Rats, Inbred Strains , Time FactorsABSTRACT
This study traces the growth rate of Hymenolepis citelli and correlates such growth to the relative frequency of the only mitotically active cell found in the germinative and immature regions of the cestode. The abundance of this cell, termed the germinative cell, was very high during the early logarithmic growth phase of the cestode and decreased just prior to patency to a level that was maintained until day 90 postinfection. An increase in germinative cell frequency was observed at day 90. It is postulated that this increase may reflect a developmental change which has occurred in the cestode following patency.
