Attempts at oral infection of rats and mice with trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica.

Groups of athymic rnu rats were found to be susceptible to SAW 408 Entamoeba histolytica introduced intra-intestinally. The same strain of rat could be infected orally with cultured trophozoites using a gastric secretion inhibitor, cimetidine, as a pretreatment. Groups of Lac:P and Wistar rats similarly treated were also found to be susceptible although the parasite population growth was slow. A similar regimen attempted on susceptible mice was unsuccessful.