Influence of rat strain on larval production by the parasitic nematode Strongyloides ratti.

The course of infection with Strongyloides ratti in a range of rat strains was assessed by monitoring the production of larvae. To our knowledge, this is the first such study of S. ratti using its natural host Rattus norvegicus. Host strain influenced the pattern of larval production. The results were qualitatively the same for 2 S. ratti lines of North American and Japanese origin.