Dynamics of egg production of the cestode Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch, 1824) (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) and the concept of fecundity in helminths.

The dynamics of egg production of the tapeworm D. dendriticum has been estimated experimentally in nestlings of the herring gull Larus argentatus per day and per reproductive period. Numbers of eggs in strobilae have been estimated for the maturation period. Mean egg production, of one tapeworm per day (10.42 +/- 2.72 mln) is two orders of magnitude as high as the maximal number of eggs in a mature strobila (0.206 +/- 0.007). It is proposed to estimate the coefficient of reproduction intensity as the ratio of egg output per unit of time and maximum egg numbers in a mature strobila.