Laboratory rodent models for the tapeworm-stage of Taenia saginata and other related taeniid species.

Attempts were carried out to establish alternative definitive host systems for Taenia saginata, T. crassiceps, T. hydatigena, Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus, in rodents. Following oral inoculation of cysticerci or protoscoleces, the tapeworm-stage development and sexual maturation of the 5 taeniid species in the intestine of a golden hamster (GH) and Mongolian gerbil (MG), both treated with prednisolone, were examined. Sexually mature T. saginata tapeworms were recovered from MG pretreated with prednisolone. The life cycles of E. multilocularis can be completed in MG and T. crassiceps in both MG and GH. T. hydatigena and E. granulosus developed to a certain extent at the tapeworm stage in MG pretreated with prednisolone. Potential use of rodents as an alternative definitive host for taeniid species is discussed.