Schistosoma japonicum eggs survive passage through dogs and chickens.
The present study sought to elucidate whether Schistosoma japonicum eggs could survive a passage through dogs and chickens. Three dogs and three chickens were used for the experiment. The dogs were allowed to eat goat faeces containing 80 S. japonicum eggs per gram. The chickens were given 2 ml of water containing more than 100 S. japonicum eggs per ml. The hatchability of the eggs was 51.8% prior to administration. All faeces were collected for 3 days from the dogs and for 2 days from the chickens and egg excretion and hatchability were measured. The results showed that nearly 50% of the eggs administered to the dogs were recovered in the faeces during the first 2 days and during the first 25 h 39% of the recovered eggs were viable and able to hatch. In the chickens 9% of the administered eggs were recovered within 27 h and within the first 3.5 h after administration 19% of the recovered eggs were viable and able to hatch. The results suggest that both dogs and chickens may act as transport hosts for S. japonicum in endemic areas.
Wang
Tianping
T
Anhui Institute of Parasitic Diseases, No. 207 Dongjiao Road, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, PR China.
Wang
Fengfeng
F
Zhu
Lei
L
Zhang
Shiqing
S
Ornbjerg
Niels
N
Johansen
Maria V
MV
D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D011897:Random Allocation; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000254:growth & development*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*