Some aspects of the presence of surface--associated acid mucosubstances on larval Taenia saginata infecting suitable and unsuitable hosts.

The coat of acid mucosubstances occurring on the bladder surface was studied in Cysticercus bovis (larvae of Taenia saginata) developing in specific (cattle) and nonspecific (some other ruminants) intermediate hosts. In cysticerci developing in nonspecific intermediate hosts, this coat is absent or poorly developed even at the time when it is completely formed on the bladder surface of C. bovis from cattle. If the cysticercus develops up to the infective stage in a nonspecific intermediate host, it is usually localized outside the muscles: in the brain, lungs or liver. Its bladder is then also covered by a coat of acid mucosubstances. The absence or insufficient development of the protective coat on larvae in nonspecific intermediate hosts is explained by their early and strong tissue reaction.