Observations on Fecundity of Adult Spirometra tapeworm in Relation to Time of Highest Production of Eggs in Experimentally Infected Cats | Chapter 1 | Research Perspective on Biological Science Vol. 6

In the life cycle of Spirometra species, the cat is a definitive host. The adult worm develops in the small intestine and starts to discharge eggs in the faeces of the cat. The faeces can be used as a diagnostic material for the infection of a cat with Spirometra. In this study, five cats were used. Each cat was orally fed with the scolex of Spagana obtained from experimentally infected hamsters. Eggs were observed microscopically in the stool of cats.  Egg count using the McMaster slide was initiated from day one of egg production of eggs. Cats started discharging eggs on days 14, 12, 60, 13 and 10 post-infection. The highest number of eggs produced was on days 40, 65, 89, 33 and 25. The number of eggs per gram of faeces for each cat was 1,550, 1,350, 1,565, 1,300 and 1,050. Eggs per day for each cat were 50,220, 41,840, 41,040, 39,650 and 32,445 for Cats A, B, C, D and E, respectively. This study determined the first day the adult worm started discharging eggs, eggs per gram of faeces, the highest number of eggs produced and eggs produced per day.

 

Author(s) Details

Nicholas J. Kavana
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences Ifakara, Tanzania

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rpbs/v6/3836

 

Experimental Studies on Domestic Cat as a Definitive Host of Spirometra Species | Chapter 4 | Contemporary Research and Perspectives in Biological Science Vol. 3

In the present study, domestic cats were used to elucidate if they were definitive hosts of Spirometra species. Cats were orally fed with spargana recovered from naturally infected frogs and from experimentally infected hamster mice. The spargana fed to domestic cats developed into adult worms. Eggs discharged by the adult worms were collected from faeces of infected domestic cats. Cats were sacrificed, adult worms were recovered, and measurements and morphology of the worms were taken. All results were compatible with Spirometra species. Therefore, the study confirms that domestic cats are the definitive host of Spirometra species.

 

Author (s) Details

Nicholas J. Kavana
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, Ifakara, Tanzania.

 

 Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/crpbs/v3/2249