Susceptibility of Wild Mammals to Infection by Schistosoma mansoni

Abstract

In the past it was believed that mlan was the only epidemiologically important malnmalian host of Schistosoma mansoni. Recent studies, however, have shown that a few other hosts may play a role in the dissemlination of this parasite (Barbosa et al 1958; Kuntz and Malakatis, 1955; Price, 1953; AMartins, 1958). The present investigation was undertaken to determine if wild lmanInals trapped in the Washington, D. C.-Baltimore, Maryland, area were susceptible to S. mansoni. It was regarded as unlikely that any of these aniimals were naturally infected because no recognized snail host of S. mansoni is present in this area. The degree of susceptibility of the various imammals tested was deteriiined by the percentage of parasites developing in the host; the growth and structural development of the worms; the ability of worims to produce eggs; the viability of eggs recovered from the feces, intestine and liver; the infectivity of miracidia for suitable snails; the sex ratio and location of the worms in the host; the length of the prepatent period; and the pathological manifestations of infection.