Journal article
The dispersion of Echinococcus granulosus in the intestine of dogs
Journal of Parasitology, Vol.75(4), pp.562-570
1989
Abstract
We studied the dispersion of adult Echinococcus granulosus in the intestine of experimentally infected dogs at 2 scales of habitat use. On a coarse scale, worms were found most frequently in the anterior third of the small intestine. On a fine scale, clumps or aggregations, typically of 4-5 worms in an area of 12 mm 2, occurred throughout the anterior two-thirds of the intestine. The most likely proximate cause of aggregative behavior is attraction between individual worms. There are at least 2 equally plausible ultimate causes of the behavior: to enhance cross-fertilization and to improve the quality of the environment. Restriction of worms to the anterior small intestine may be a consequence of aggregative behavior on a finer scale or a response to different proximate and ultimate factors.
Details
- Title
- The dispersion of Echinococcus granulosus in the intestine of dogs
- Authors/Creators
- A.J. Lymbery (Author/Creator)R.P. Hobbs (Author/Creator)R.C.A. Thompson (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Journal of Parasitology, Vol.75(4), pp.562-570
- Publisher
- American Society of Parasitologists
- Identifiers
- 991005544890907891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Veterinary Studies
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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