Inoculation of ferrets with ten third-stage larvae of Dracunculus insignis.

Infection with Dracunculus insignis was established in 7 of 10 ferrets experimentally inoculated intraperitoneally with 10 third-stage larvae (L3's). Worm recovery and infection rate were comparable to animals inoculated with 50 L3's. This study demonstrates that once infective larvae traverse the gut and pass into the peritoneal cavity, very few larvae are required to establish infection.