title: Single and concurrent infections of the golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, with Echinostoma revolutum and E. liei (Trematoda: Digenea).
abstract: Single or concurrent infections of the intestinal trematodes Echinostoma revolutum and E. liei were studied in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). In single infections, some hamsters were fed 25 +/- 5 metacercarial cysts and others 100 +/- 25 cysts of either E. revolutum or E. liei. In concurrent infections, hamsters were fed simultaneously 20 +/- 5 metacercarial cysts of E. revolutum and 20 +/- 5 cysts of E. liei or 100 +/- 25 cysts each of both trematodes. All hamsters exposed singly to E. revolutum or E. liei were infected. In concurrent infections, 9 of 10 hamsters were infected with both species of echinostomes, and the ratio of E. revolutum to E. liei was 3:1. In single infections, 80% of the E. liei and 60% of the E. revolutum were in the posterior third of the small intestine. In concurrent infections, 80% of the E. liei were in the posterior third and 57% of the E. revolutum in the middle third of the small intestine. The histopathological response of E. liei and E. revolutum in single and concurrent infections showed erosion of intestinal villi with lymphocytic infiltration as the primary response. Extraintestinal echinostomiasis occurred in 2 of the infection groups. Differences in hemoglobin and packed cell volume occurred in the different infection groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, East Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvania 18301.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Huffman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alcaide
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fried
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004449:Echinostoma / Q000254:growth & development*; D004451:Echinostomiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology*; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000469:parasitology; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000469:parasitology; D008647:Mesocricetus; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology*