Effect of host age in the distribution of adult Trichinella zimbabwensis in the small intestines of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) and Balb C mice

MUKARATIRWA, S., NKULUNGO, E. , MATENGA, ELIZABETH & BHEBHE. E. 2003. Effect 01 host age in the distribution of adult Trichinella zimbabwensis in the small intestines of golden hamsters (Mesocric6tus auralus) and Balb C miCe. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 70:169-173 Golden hamslers (Mesoc::ricetus auratus) and Balb C mice were experimentally inleeled with Tricllinelfa zimbabwenSis to delermine the effect of host age in the distribution 01 aduh stages In the small intestines. The hamsters and mice were divided into two groups of young and old animals. Hamsters aged 90 days were designated as young and those aged 360 days were deSignated as old while mice 01 30 days 01 age were designated as young and those aged 90 days as old. To recover the adult parasites of T. zirnbabwenSis, the small intestines 01 each animal were separated and divi ded into lour equal parts and each part was slit open Ioogitudinally. The contenls were incu· bated in 0.85 % saline lor 4 h at 37 °C belore the adult worms were recovered Irom the saline. They were fixed in 70 % alcohol and counted under a dissecting microscope. In both young and old ham· sters and mice, T. zimbabwensis adult worm counts were signilicantly higher (P < 0.05) in the sec­ ond segment of the Intestines thus invariably reflecting a significanlly high count (P < 0.05) in the lirst (anterior) hall ol lhe small intestines. From thi s study it was demonstrated that host-age had no effect on the d isiributioo of T. zimbabwensis adult worms in the different segments 01 th e small In tesllnes of golden hamsters and Balb C mice.