The potential of Capillaria hepatica to control mouse plagues.

The potential of helminths as bio-control agents of mammalian pests has been largely ignored. However, the nematode Capillaria hepatica is currently being examined for its potential to control population outbreaks of house mice in Australia. Grant Singleton and Hamish McCallum discuss laboratory and ecological studies of the parasite and host, and describe the results of two models that explore the interaction between C. hepatica and mouse populations.