Infectivity of <i>Paragonimus westermani</i> developing in a final host to another final host

, Kong, Y; , Yang, H J; , Cho, S Y

doi:1994.32.4.277

Korean J Parasito > Volume 32(4):1994 > Article

Brief Communication


Korean J Parasitol. 1994 Dec;32(4):277-280. English. Published online Dec 20, 1994. http://dx.doi.org/10.3347/kjp.1994.32.4.277
Copyright © 1994 by The Korean Society for Parasitology


Infectivity of Paragonimus westermani developing in a final host to another final host
Y Kong,¹H J Yang,² and S Y Cho^*¹
¹Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756, Korea.

Received October 12, 1994; Accepted November 08, 1994.

Abstract
In the definitive hosts, metacercariae of Paragonimus westermani excyst in host duodenum, penetrate intestinal wall, migrate peritoneal and thoracic cavities, and develop to sexual maturity in 8 weeks. This study was undertaken to examine the age of the maturing P. westermani when their infectivity to the other definitive hosts was retained. On 3, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days after feeding the metacercariae to cats through a gastric tube, the developing worms were harvested. The juveniles of different age were fed again to other experimental cats. One to 12 weeks after the oral-transfer infections, the experimental cats were examined for establishment of infections. In the cats to which 3-day and 7-day old juveniles (grown up to 1.4 mm long) were fed, 31.4% and 22.6% of the transferred worms were found infected. The worms of 10-28 days old were not infective. Early maturing stages grown up to 7 days maintained their infectivity to the other definitive hosts.

Figures

Fig. 1
Growth of length in early stages of Paragonimus westermani when infected in cats. (●); excysted metacercariae and juvenile worms recovered from cats (the first experiment), (○): juvenile worms from the second experiment, (▲); juveniles recovered from experimental cats which were infected by oral-transfer experiment (days in a cat + days in transferred infections). Vertical bars indicate one standard deviation.

Tables


	Table 1 Results of oral-transfer experiment of P. westermani of different ages which were reared in cats

References


1.	Fan PC, Lu H, Lin LH. Experimental infection of Paragonimus westermani in mice and rats. Korean J Parasitol 1993;31(2):91–97.

2.	Fan PC, Lu H, Lin LH. Experimental transfer of Paragonimus westermani from rodents to rodents following subcutaneous and intraperitoneal routes. J Helminthol 1994;68(1):41–44.

3.	Im JG, Kong Y, Shin YM, Yang SO, Song JG, Han MC, Kim CW, Cho SY, Ham EK. Pulmonary paragonimiasis: clinical and experimental studies. Radiographics 1993;13(3):575–586.

4.	Lee SK, et al. J Korean Radiol Soc 1994;30:1003–1012.

5.	Miyazaki I, Habe S. A newly recognized mode of human infection with the lung fluke, Paragonimus westermani (Kerbert 1878). J Parasitol 1976;62(4):646–648.

6.	Miyazaki I, Hirose H. Immature lung flukes first found in the muscle of the wild boar in Japan. J Parasitol 1976;62(5):836–837.

7.	Nishimura K. Jpn J Parasitol 1966;15:429–446.

8.	Soh CT, et al. Yonsei Rep Trop Med 1986;17:30–41.

9.	Song CY, Dresden MH. Partial purification and characterization of cysteine proteinases from various developmental stages of Paragonimus westermani. Comp Biochem Physiol B 1990;95(3):473–476.

*10.*	Yamakami K, Hamajima F. Purification of a neutral thiol protease from Paragonimus westermani metacercariae by single-step chromatography and preparation of antibodies. Int J Parasitol 1989;19(1):9–12.