[Comparative observation on experimental infection with Echinococcus multilocularis in Cricetulus Migratorius and Meriones meridianus].

AIM: To search for an animal model with higher susceptibility to Echinococcus multilocularis and shorter experimental period.
METHODS: Cricetulus migratorius, Meriones meridianus and NIH mice were experimentally infected with protoscolices of E. multilocularis and were autopsed at different times after their infection. The development of E. multilocularis in these three species of rodents was observed and compared.
RESULTS: The average wet cyst weight and the ratio of cyst weight to body weight on the 91st day after infection were 15.0 +/- 2.1 g and 32.3% for C. migratorius, 3.3 +/- 1.1 g and 6.9% for M. meridianus, 0.6 +/- 0.6 g and 2.4% for NIH mice; and the corresponding figures on the 188th day after infection were 11.8 +/- 2.7 g and 21.7% for C. migratorius, 8.1 +/- 5.1 g and 15.4% for M. meridianus and 8.4 +/- 8.3 g and 26.7% for NIH mice, respectively. On the 91st day, matured protoscolices were found in C. migratorius and M. meridianus, whereas NIH mice had matured protoscolices on the 188th day after infection.
CONCLUSION: C. migratorius has higher sensitivity to E. multilocularis infection than the other two species of animals as manifested by high infection rate, well-developed vesicles and rapid growth speed. C. migratorius proved to be an ideal experimental animal for E. multilocularis.