Intensity of infection and development of adult Clonorchis sinensis in hamsters.

In an attempt to determine the susceptibility of inbred golden hamsters(Mesocricetus auratus) to the experimental infection with Clonorchis sinensis, twenty-five hamsters were divided into 5 groups and administered orally 5, 10, 20, 30 or 50 metacercariae each. The hamsters were killed on the 45th day after infection. The adult flukes were recovered from all hamsters. The overall recovery rate for the fluke was 57.9 percent with the range of 48.4 percent to 92.0 percent. As the number of the metacercariae given increased, a proportionate decrease in the recovery rate was found. The prepatent period of the fluke in the hamster varied from 16 to 17 days, with the average of 16 days. No significant differences in the development of the flukes were observed. Egg production expressed by EPG, increased step by step as the time elapsed. However, a tendency of decreasing egg laying capacity was observed with the increase of worm burden. It is suggested that the hamster is a suitable final host of C. sinensis.