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Preliminary biochemical characterization of faeces from uninfected rats and rats infected with the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

P.W. Pappas  and
S.M. Wardrop
P.W. Pappas
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1293, USA
S.M. Wardrop
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1293, USA
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Abstract

Faecal pellets were collected from uninfected rats and rats infected with Hymenolepis diminuta, and analysed for caloric value, lipids, carbohydrates, glucose, amino acids, and proteins. Faeces from infected rats contained significantly more lipid and less carbohydrate and glucose than faeces from control rats. The total free amino acid content of faeces from infected and control rats did not differ, but there were significant differences in the amounts of individual free amino acids. The data support the hypothesis that the nutrient composition of faeces from infected and control hosts differ. Beetles that serve as the intermediate host for H. diminuta may be able to detect these differences, and this may explain why beetles preferentially ingest faeces containing the tapeworm's eggs.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 71 , Issue 1 , March 1997 , pp. 57 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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