Studies on schistosomiasis. 7. A comparison of various methods for the infestation of sheep with Schistosoma mattheei.

The percutaneous (leg and thorax and abdomen) and subcutaneous routes of infestation with Schistosoma mattheei were compared in 29 sheep. Larger percentages of cercariae developed after percutaneous than subcutaneous infestation and the difference was highly significant (P less than 0,0001). Furthermore, if the leg was used for percutaneous infestation worm development was significantly higher (P less than 0,02) when the skin was washed thoroughly in water before exposing it to cercariae, than when it was left unwashed. Washing was apparently not necessary if the thorax and abdomen served as the route of infestation.