Development of <it>Taenia pisiformis </it>in golden hamster (<it>Mesocricetus auratus</it>)

• Main Authors: Maravilla Pablo, Avila-Ramirez Guillermina, Garcia-Cortes Ramon, Jimenez-Gonzalez Diego E, Garza-Rodriguez Adriana, Toral-Bastida Elizabeth, Flisser Ana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-07-01
• Series: Parasites & Vectors
• Online Access: http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/4/1/147

<p>Abstract</p> <p>The life cycle of <it>Taenia pisiformis </it>includes canines as definitive hosts and rabbits as intermediate hosts. Golden hamster (<it>Mesocricetus auratus</it>) is a rodent that has been successfully used as experimental model of <it>Taenia solium </it>taeniosis. In the present study we describe the course of <it>T. pisiformis </it>infection in experimentally infected golden hamsters. Ten females, treated with methyl-prednisolone acetate were infected with three <it>T. pisiformis </it>cysticerci each one excised from one rabbit. Proglottids released in faeces and adults recovered during necropsy showed that all animals were infected. Eggs obtained from the hamsters' tapeworms, were assessed for viability using trypan blue or propidium iodide stains. Afterwards, some rabbits were inoculated with eggs, necropsy was performed after seven weeks and viable cysticerci were obtained. Our results demonstrate that the experimental model of adult <it>Taenia pisiformis </it>in golden hamster can replace the use of canines in order to study this parasite and to provide eggs and adult tapeworms to be used in different types of experiments.</p>