Between March and May 2009, 20 tiger keelback snakes (R. tigrinus) were collected from Ganghwa-gun, Incheon-si, Korea. After peeling off the snake skin, the viscera were separated from the muscle. Then, the viscera were cut into small segments, and were digested with artificial digestive juice for 1 hr at 36℃. They were washed several times with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and investigated for the presence of Centrorhynchus under a stereomicroscope. The number of recovered larvae was counted per snake, and some of them were fixed in formalin for microscopic examinations.

The collected larvae (days 0 PI) were used for experimental infection in rats, and some were fixed in 10% formalin for microscopic examinations. Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats (4 weeks old) were experimentally fed 70 larvae each, and sacrificed by cervical dislocation on days 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 70 PI. The number of sacrificed rats was 4 except for days 1, 3, and 70 PI, in which 1-2 rats were sacrificed. The rats were thoroughly investigated for Centrorhynchus larvae, especially in the abdominal cavity. The intestines were also examined, and the viscera containing the worms were fixed in 10% neutral formalin and stained in hematoxylin-eosin for histological sections. The recovered worms were fixed with 10% neutral formalin under cover slip pressure, and were examined after Semichon's acetocarmine staining.

All the snakes (R. tigrinus) examined were infected with Centrorhynchus larvae (100%), and the number of larvae was in the range from 11 to 266 (120.6 ± 70.0). In experimentally infected rats, the recovery rate of larvae was maintained in the range of 25-37% except for 14.3% of day 3 PI. The larvae were found in extraintestinal sites on day 1 PI, and all the larvae were discovered outside the intestine on day 3 PI (Table 1). The mesentery was the most preferred site (Fig. 1A), and some of the worms were observed in the muscles of the rats (Fig. 1B). On day 3 PI, the penetrating larva was observed in the intestinal wall (Fig. 1C). All the extraintestinal worms were surrounded by a fibrotic capsule (Fig. 1D).

The trunk was robust, aspinose, and pyriform. The maximum width was located slightly posterior to the midline. The recovered larvae from the snakes were 1,398 × 733.9 µm in size, and they became slender as infection proceeds, 2,632.0 × 787.5 µm on day 20 PI. The female worm was larger than the male worm in average size. Two tubular lemnisci were on both sides of the proboscis, forming a sac-like structure. The proboscis was entirely covered with hooks. The number of hooks was nearly unchanged according to the developmental days, 29-33 longitudinal rows of 12-13 hooks (Fig. 2A). The proboscis receptacle was clearly distinguished on day 3 PI. It consisted of a double-layered wall, a ventral one more attenuated than the dorsal one. Numerous muscle fibers were seen in these walls, and the proboscis retractor muscle was located inside it. The proboscis receptacle tapered into the posterior end, forming a blind sac. Beneath the proboscis, 2 lemnisci began on both sides of the proboscis, ending anterior to the proboscis receptacle.

In male worms, two testes were round and equal in size, arranged tandem. They were found in the posterior 4/5 on day 1 PI, but moved to the equator on day 3 PI (Fig. 2B), finally located at the lower border of lemnisci. The Safftigen's pouch was observed at the posterior part, and the copulatory bursa was extruded on day 3 PI. The cement glands were tubular, posterior to the testis. On day 20 PI, numerous cells were observed inside the cement gland, composed of 3 tubular structures in male worms (Fig. 2C).

The female worm had a uterine bell near the posterior end of the trunk, connected with an egg sorting apparatus, uterus, vagina, and vulva, which opens terminally. The vagina was surrounded by a muscle sphincter, which was divided into 2 portions (anterior and posterior). Ovary developed as numerous cell aggregates, floating in the body cavity (Fig. 2D). From these findings, it was concluded that this parasite belonged to the phylum Acanthocephala, especially the genus Centrorhynchus.

On the day 1 PI, it was observed that a larva was penetrating the intestinal wall (Fig. 3A). The anterior part of the worm was already outside the wall. Small intestinal mucosa revealed acute inflammatory infiltrates around the worm (Fig. 3A). The widening of lamina propria and villi blunting were also observed. On day 5 PI, the larvae were also penetrating the wall, but some were entering the muscles of rats. On day 15 PI, the section of male worms revealed 3 tubular structures of cement glands (Fig. 3B). On day 20 PI, some larvae were observed in the internal oblique muscle of rats (Fig. 3C). It was observed that the worm was rimmed by epithelioid histiocytes with infiltration of lymphocytes and eosinophils, forming vague granulomas. The remaining skeletal muscle showed no specific changes (Fig. 3C).