The Laboratory Propagation of Spirometra mansonoides (Mueller, 1935) as an Experimental Tool. VII. Improved Techniques and Additional Notes on the Biology of the Cestode

Improvements are given for techniques originally described by the author in 1959 for the laboratory propagation and manipulation of Spirometra mansonoides, suggesting that susceptibility of Cyclops vernalis to procercoid infection has a genetic basis and that resistance is of two types.

Abstract

Improvements are given for techniques originally described by the author in 1959. These have to do with collecting and hatching the eggs, rearing of copepods, the optimum time of harvesting and feeding out parasitized copepod cultures, prevention of fungus contamination of in vitro sparganule cultures, and an improved two-step method for implanting spargana into experimental animals. Incidental observations are presented suggesting that susceptibility of Cyclops vernalis to procercoid infection has a genetic basis, and that resistance is of two types. It is also reported that copepod cultures maintain themselves largely by cannibalism of the early nauplii by the older larval and adult forms. In a series of papers, Mueller (1959a, b, c) described methods for the laboratory propagation and manipulation of Spirometra mansonoides. Six years of additional work with this worm system have proved the essential soundness of the methods originally developed. Nevertheless, as might be expected, continuing experience has resulted in improvements and simplifications. Since this helminth is being used by an increasing number of independent workers, it seems appropriate to describe these technical advances.