Infection course of the strobilar stage of Taenia crassiceps in golden hamsters, with reference to host responses.

The time course of intestinal infection of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) with Taenia crassiceps was monitored every 2 days up to day 26 postinfection (p.i.). The isolate used was originally obtained from Clethrionomys rutilus on St. Lawrence Island, Bering Sea (USA), and shows a high level of enteral establishment without parenteral infection. Following oral administration of various numbers (3, 15, 30, or 60) of metacestodes, proportional numbers of cestodes attached their scolices to the mucosa of the middle (one-third) segment of the small intestine. Except for animals given 3 metacestodes, dislocation of cestodes to the posterior parts of the intestine was noted on days 10-14 p.i. and began faster in animals that had received larger numbers of metacestodes. Concurrent with dislocation or elimination of cestodes, there existed distinct increases in intestinal eosinophil peroxidase and myeloperoxidase activities. The number of mast cells in the lamina propria peaked on day 16 p.i., and specific serum IgG began to increase within 1 week p.i. The level of all these changes was dose-dependent. In prednisolone-treated animals that received 60 metacestodes, dislocation of cestodes was not evident, and mucosal inflammatory changes were suppressed to a considerable extent. The findings of this study are discussed as a model for the study of canine taeniasis.