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Food intake and body weight changes in mice infected with metacestodes of Taenia crassiceps

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

D. W. T. Crompton
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, The Molteno Institute, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EE
S. E. Arnold
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, The Molteno Institute, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EE
D. E. Walters
Affiliation:
AFRC Statistics Group, Department of Applied Biology, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3DX
P. J. Whitfield
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, King's College, The Strand, London WC2R 2LS

Extract

General nutritional effects on female CFLP mice harbouring larval Taenia crassiceps were investigated using groups of mice fed ad libitum on purified diets containing 2%, 4%, 8% and 16% (w/w) protein respectively. When uninfected and infected mice were compared over an experimental period of 20 weeks, it was established that a significantly higher proportion of uninfected mice survived the course of the experiment than infected mice. There was no evidence of the presence of the parasites having any effect on the overall food intake of the mice. Infected mice, however, were found to be significantly heavier, on a fresh weight basis, than their uninfected partners, but the pattern was reversed when the dry weights of mouse carcasses were compared following the removal of parasites. In general, more parasite tissue was recovered from mice feeding on the higher protein diets (8% and 16%).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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References

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