The growth of the metacestodes of Taenia crassiceps in white mice.

The effect of the sex of the intermediate host on the growth and development of the metacestodes of Taenia crassiceps has been investigated. Three different strains of mice were used, the C R S, L A C A and C F L P strains and two strains of metacestode, the Toi and the E R S strains. The results show that matacestodes of T. crassiceps grow and multiply more rapidly in female than in male mice, although both sexes are equally susceptible to the infection. The origin of the parasite, i.e., from a rat or mouse host, affects the parasite growth.