Developmental physiology of cestodes. XIV. Roughage and carbohydrate content of host diet for optimal growth and development of Hymenolepis diminuta.
Diets of rats infected with Hymenolepis diminuta (CESTODA: Cyclophyllidea) were altered with respect to carbohydrate content and to roughage, and the effects on worm growth and development were studied. Compared to worms from rats fed a 56% glucose diet, those on a 56% starch diet were heavier at 10 and 15 days and had more immature proglottids at 5 days, mature prglottids at 10 days, and mature and gravid proglottids at 15 days postinfection. In addition, worms from rats fed the starch diet contained a higher carbohydrate concentration and a lower lipid concentration from those fed the glucose diet. Worms from rats fed diets with combinations of carbohydrates such as 51% starch-5% sucrose and 51% starch-5% lactose were not different from those fed the 56% starch diet. If rats were fed a pellet diet (Purina Laboratory Chow), the worms grew substantially larger than those from rats fed the 56% starch or combination diets. The differences could be overcome if a 6% roughage component were included in the 56% starch diet. Therefore, the starch-roughage diet here presented is recommended as the optimal defined diet for studies of the development of H. diminuta in the definitive host.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002589:Cestoda / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D002590:Cestode Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000378:metabolism*; D006926:Hymenolepis / Q000032:analysis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates