The development of Haemonchus contortus, a nematode parasite of the ovine abomasum, in the laboratory rabbit.
The development and growth of Haemonchus contortus was studied in the stomach of the laboratory rabbit. Less than 1% of the ensheathed infective larvae given to rabbits became established, whereas after exsheathment in vitro under physiological conditions, 20-30% of the larvae administered developed to the 4th stage. Following doses of up to 10000 larvae, nearly all worms were lost from the 16th to the 21st day after infection, but after doses of 50000 larvae considerable numbers of 4th-stage larvae were recovered 25 days after infection. No adult worms were recovered and no eggs were found in the faeces. Infection was accompanied by inflammation, haemorrhage, disruption and flattening of the mucus secreting cells and by mononuclear infiltration. No cellular reactions in the immediate vicinity of the nematodes in the mucosa or changes in the pH of the stomach contents were observed.
D000818:Animals; D006188:Haemonchiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006189:Haemonchus / Q000254:growth & development; D011817:Rabbits; D012756:Sheep; D013270:Stomach / Q000469:parasitology; D014252:Trichostrongyloidiasis / Q000662:veterinary*