Effect of gamma irradiation on the rate of cyst development of E. granulosus larvae in Swiss albino mice.

White albino mice Mus Musculus albinus were intraperitoneally inoculated with aseptical normal and gamma irradiated protoscolices of E. granulosus at dose level of 40, 60, 80 and 100 Kr. Mice, either normaly infected or infected with irradiated protoscolices and sacrificed at intervals of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks, showed a marked increase in the percentage of cyst number in the liver than in the peritoneal cavity or around spleen, although by increasing the dose level to 100 Kr. no cyst were developed around the spleen. Meanwhile the % of developing cyst in the peritoneal cavity was time and dose level dependent. The mean cyst diameter showed a progressive increase with the increase of infection time and a successive decrease by increasing the dose level of gamma irradiation. An increase in the number of cyst was observed particularly in normal mice where a marked increase was noted on the 8th week post infection while a successive decrease in the mean number of cyst was observed by increasing the dose level of gamma irradiation.