TRICHINELLA SPIRALIS - ESTABLISHMENT IN GNOTOBIOTIC MICE AFFECTED BY BACILLUS MESENTERICUS, B SUBTILIS, AND PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

The influence of selected bacteria, Bacillus mesentericus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and of normal host microflora on the establishment of the intestinal phase of Trichinella spiralis infections was studied in germfree, monocontaminated, and conventional mice. Effects of the parasitic infections on packed cell volume (PCV) and differential leukocyte (WBC) counts were also examined. Significantly more adult T. spiralis were found in conventional than germfree or monocontaminated animals. Numbers of worms in the monocontaminated animals were also shown to vary with the species of bacteria present, as well as the area of the digestive tract colonized by these bacteria. Pronounced differences in PCV and differential WBC count values were not observed among the groups of animals examined. © 1969.