The effects of Trichinella spiralis infection of pregnant mice on the future behavior of their offspring

Trichinella spiralis infections in pregnant mice had both pre- and post-natal effects on the future behavior of the offspring. Young, born of infected and reared by uninfected mothers as well as young born of uninfected and reared by infected mothers, were behaviorally distinguishable from controls that were born and reared by uninfected mothers when assessed by their tendency to emerge from their home cages into an unfamiliar open-field arena. The pre- and post-natal effects appeared to be additive, since offspring born and reared by infected mothers were most severely affected.