Bacterial-parasite interaction between Salmonella and each of Fasciola gigantica and Trichinella spiralis.

The possibility of bacterial-parasite interaction between Salmonella typhimurium and the surface of each of Fasciola gigantica metacercariae and Trichinella spiralis larvae was investigated in vitro. Two studies were carried out. In the first, S. typhimurium were incubated in vitro with the metacercariae of F. gigantica. In the second, S. typhimurium was incubated with larvae of T. spiralis. The interactions of S. typhimurium with each of F. gigantica metacercariae and T. spiralis larvae were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). In the first study, numerous bacilli were found adhered to the metacercariae surface. In the second study, no S. typhimurium was observed on the wall of T. spiralis larvae. The results indicated that only F. gigantica metacercariae act as a carrier for S. typhimurium with the possibility of occurrence of mixed infections with both organisms. So, both fascioliasis and salmonellosis must be treated concomitantly.