The possible role of the soil fauna in the epizootiology of cysticercosis in cattle. I. Earthworms -- the biotic factor in a transmission of Taenia saginata eggs.

The role of earthworms in the transmission of Taenia saginata eggs was determined by inoculating 30 earthworms directly: lumbricus terrestris, Allolobophora caliginosa and Eisenia foetida with tapeworm eggs. The remaining earthworms (280 specimens) were examined by contaminating their medium indirectly with T. saginata eggs or segments. It has been concluded that the eggs of tapeworms may be transmitted by the digestive tracts of earthworms. It seems that in the natural environment earthworms may contribute to the horizontal and the vertical spreading eggs in soil and the same may play an important role in the epizootiology of cysticercosis in cattle.