A rapid method for the infection of laboratory mice with Schistosoma japonicum.

Known numbers of medium-suspended cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum were injected either intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously into mice and were compared for infectivity with S. japonicum cercariae that had been administered percutaneously. The injected cercariae appeared to be no less infective or fecund even after their maintenance in vitro for up to six hours. The intraperitoneal route of inoculation was preferred as it facilitated the rapid infection of mice and furthermore was much safer than conventional percutaneous application of cercariae.