The experimental transfer of adult Fasciola hepatica between various mammalian hosts
Hughes, D.L.; Harness, E.
Research in Veterinary Science 13(5): 422-426
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-5288 PMID: 4635113 Document Number: 56308
Adult Fasciola hepatica, aseptically removed from the bile-ducts of experimentally infected goats, rabbits and rats were placed into the body-cavities of rats and rabbits. They survived well when transferred immediately and also after being held for a few hours in vitro. In rats, transferred flukes survived for at least 6 to 7 weeks inside a well-formed cyst; the flukes laid eggs normally and they appeared normal histologically. Cysts were not formed in rabbits but a small number of the transferred flukes survived for 7 weeks, although they did not appear to thrive or feed normally and contained very few, if any, eggs in their uteri. [AS].