Reduction of the Pathogenicity of Fasciola hepatica in Mice by X-Irradiation

Abstract

THE mouse has been used by several investigators for experimental work with Fasciola hepatica infections^1–5. During the course of investigations described in this communication mice infected with 10 or 20 normal metacercariæ generally died 18–35 days after oral or intraperitoneal infection; most mice died 22–26 days after infection. At post-mortem examination immature flukes have been found in the body cavity, thoracic cavity and liver. Occasionally mature flukes have been found in the greatly enlarged bile duct 37 days after infection and a few mice have survived for at least 60 days with as many as 5 mature flukes in the bile duct.