Migration Route of Spirocerca Sanguinolenta in its Definitive Host.

Abstract

Five years ago the writer found larval nematodes encysted on the mesentery of the hedgehog, Erinaceus dealbatus, secured in the vicinity of Peking. On morphological grounds Schwartz 1 determined these larvae to be Spirocerca sanguinolenta. Subsequent examination of specimens of this host revealed the fact that it was commonly infected with these larvae, encysted in the mesentery, in the omentum, and on the peritoneal wall of the stomach. Since living material was readily obtained during the entire year, an opportunity was offered to further study this problem. The dogs and cats used in the experimental series were born and reared in the laboratory. Although the cat is not a natural host of the infection, it has been found to be an appropriate one for experimental work and has proved to be as satisfactory in all respects as the dog.†

Mesentery and omentum containing the encapsulated larvae were fed to the animals immediately after the removal of these tissues from anesthetized hedgehogs. A half hour to an hour after feeding, the experimental host invariably attempted to vomit the meal. In the vomitus were active excysted and excysting larvae, the delicate adventitious capsule having been digested off almost immediately after coming in contact with the gastric juice. The vomitus was refed, the mouth was tied and digestion proceeded during forced retention. The animals were autopsied from 2 hours to 6 months after the feeding as indicated in Table I.