THE LIFE CYCLE OF TRICHINELLA SPIRALIS: I. THE INTESTINAL PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

In experimental infections in mice, Trichinella spiralis larvae in the intestines molted twice before reaching sexual maturity. In both sexes, the first molt occurred between 12 and 16 hours post infection; in males, the second molt occurred between 24 and 32 hours, and in females, between 22 and 30 hours. The females were inseminated after the 36th hour post infection, but some males had spermatozoa in the seminal vesicles before the completion of the second molt. Structures, believed to be amphids, were observed after 2 hours post infection; they increased in size up to the 6th hour, after which they regressed and finally disappeared. The function of these amphids is believed to be related to osmoregulation.