Preliminary report on the golden hamster as a definitive host of Taenia solium Linnaeus, 1758 and Taenia saginata Goeze, 1782

Abstract

Injections of an immunosuppressant drug, methyl prednisolone acetate, increase the susceptibility of golden hamsters to the adult stage of Taenia solium Linnaeus, 1758. At dosage rates of 10, 5, 2 and 1 mg per week, 73,9, 80,0, 64,3 and 25 per cent respectively of the hamsters became infested. Both male and female genitalia develop but egg production does not occur. When hamsters are treated with 10 mg of the drug 25 per cent became infested with the adult stage of Taenia saginata Goeze, 1782.