Experimental infection of mammals with larval Echinocephalus sinensis (Nematoda: Gnathostomatidae) from oysters ( Crassostrea gigas)

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Ko, Ronald C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1976
• Subjects: Crassostrea gigas
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z76-070; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z76-070

Seasonal variations were observed in Echinocephalus sinensis infections in 1159 Crassostrea gigas examined in Hong Kong in 1974. The highest incidence and intensity of infection was recorded in August. Worms recovered at various times during the year from naturally infected oysters were fed to 37 kittens, 11 monkeys, and two puppies, but infections were successful only with larvae collected from August to October. It is suggested that the infectivity of E. sinensis to mammals may be dependent on the ambient temperature. Some worms penetrated the gastrointestinal tract and underwent a random visceral migration in mammals. Worms were located in many organs of three kittens that died 16–30 h postinfection. Degenerating worms were found in a fibrous nodule in the stomach wall of a monkey examined 14 days postinfection; one worm was also recovered from the lung. The histopathology of the infection is briefly described and the possibility of E. sinensis infecting man is discussed.