Studies on experimental mixed infections ofSchistosoma mansoni andS. haematobium in hamsters

Abstract

Golden hamsters were superinfected simultaneously with 100Schistosoma haematobium cercariae, 1 and 3 weeks after initial infection with 100S. mansoni cercariae. Results indicate that there was a higher degree of resistance to superinfection withS. haematobium at 1 week following initial infection withS. mansoni than that produced in the other two superinfections. This resistance was evidenced by a reduction in the number and size of worms of both species, decrease inS. haematobium egg extrusion per female and by a striking deviation in the egg distribution pattern of both species. Such an early host resistance was not recorded in previous works. Cross-mating was observed but no hybridization took place and the eggs produced were hatchable and typical of their species.