Mast Cell Response to Cestode Infection

Abstract

SummaryMast cells have been found in the cyst wall of a larval cestode parasite (Hydatigena taeniaeformis). The mast cells were present in the outer 2 layers of the cyst wall. This indicates that the entire cyst wall is of host-inflammatory origin and not derived from parasite tissue nor solely from modified host-liver cells. It is suggested that detection of mast cells as host-mesenchymal cellular units may aid in determining origins of cysts produced by other parasites.