The expulsion of Echinostoma trivolvis and retention of Echinostoma caproni in the ICR mouse: pathological effects

The infectivity and distribution of Echinostoma trivolvis were studied in female ICR mice each infected with 25 metacercarial cysts. At 7 and 10 days post-exposure worm recoveries were 58.8 and 58.4%, respectively. Worm recovery declined to 38.2% by day 14, to 6.4% by day 21, and 0% by day 28. The distribution of the parasites demonstrated an anteriad shift over time. Comparative histopathological studies were carried out on E. trivolvis and Echinostoma caproni in the mouse. Compared to control and E. trivolvis-infected intestine, mouse intestine infected with E. caproni showed marked dilation and villous atrophy. E. trivolvis-infected intestine showed a nearly two-fold increase in goblet cells compared to control intestine, whereas the intestine of E. caproni-infected mice showed almost complete goblet cell loss. Additionally, there was a marked increase in collagen in the intestinal musculature of the mice infected with E. trivolvis compared to control and E. caproni-infected mice.