The role of muscle larvae of Trichinella spiralis in the behavioral alterations of the mouse host.

The effects of early and encysted muscle larvae of Trichinella spiralis on the open-field behavior of CD-1 mice were studied. Chemotherapy with fenbendazole prior to encystment of larvae prevented the development of behavioral changes in mice. The chemotherapeutic destruction of encysted muscle larvae restored the ambulatory activity of mice to normal levels. The study suggests that muscle larvae are the etiological agents of behavioral alterations in the mouse host.