Changes in germinative cell frequencies in the germinative region of Hymenolepis diminuta during development.

Changes in the frequency of germinative cells were measured daily during prepatent development in five-worm infections of Hymenolepis diminuta as well as at regular intervals during patency in five- and 20-worm infections. Frequency changes of this cell were found to correlate closely to the normal growth pattern of this cestode during prepatent development. Significant changes were also seen to occur during patency. However, the pattern of these changes appeared to be modified as the number of worms per host increased. By 90 days postinfection, cestodes recovered from 20-worm infections could be divided into two populations of distinctly different sizes. Significant differences in germinative cell frequency also occurred between these two populations.