Longevity of Zygocotyle lunata in Balb/c mice and long-term survival of digeneans in vertebrate hosts.
This study used Balb/c mice to examine the longevity of Zygocotyle lunata in a murine host. Of 11 mice, each exposed to 20 Z. lunata cysts, six were infected with a total of 12 worms from 11 to 24 weeks postinfection (PI). Live worms recovered at 24 weeks PI had a mean body area of about 25 mm2. These worms produced viable eggs with well-developed miracidia following embryonation in artificial spring water for 2 weeks at 28°C. The Balb/c mouse is a useful model to study longevity of this paramphistomid trematode for at least 6 months PI. An additional aspect of this article is a review of the pertinent literature published from 1937 to 2007 on ageing and longevity of digeneans.
Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042, USA. friedb@lafayette.edu
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D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000469:parasitology; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D014200:Trematoda / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*