Quinnell R J
Department of Parasitology, Molteno Institute, Cambridge, UK.
J Helminthol. 1988 Jun;62(2):158-62. doi: 10.1017/s0022149x00011421.
Five, 20, and 80 cysticercoid infections of Hymenolepis diminuta were established in 1-, 2- and 5-month-old male Wistar rats. Worm numbers, dry weights and egg outputs were determined on day 28 post infection. Worm recovery was found to be independent of cysticercoid dose in 1-month-old rats, but density-dependent in older rats. Density dependence affected both worm dry weight and egg production in all 3 age classes of host studied. However, at the highest dose both dry weight and egg production were significantly decreased in 2- and 5-month-old rats compared with 1-month-old rats. The results cannot be explained solely in terms of competition for a resource, and suggest that immunological mechanisms may have an important role in the "crowding effect".
