Fecundity of Litomosoides carinii (Nematoda, Filarioidea) in vivo and in vitro

Several parameters concerning the reproduction of Litomosoides carinii were assessed using quantitatively infected cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus). The course of embryogenesis from the fertilization of eggs to the delivery of the first microfilariae was observed by daily autopsies during prepatency. The duration of embryogenesis in vivo could thus be determined as 18 +/- 2 days. The contents of embryos in the uteri of female worms had been examined at various intervals. At the onset of patency 7-8 weeks p.i. the females were 71 +/- 6 mm long and on average contained 308 X 10(3) embryos/female, of which 19% were pathologically altered. In the middle of patency 16-20 weeks p.i. the females had grown up to 100 +/- 11 mm in length and now contained 509 X 10(3) embryos/female, 25% of them were pathologically altered, the others were normally developed. A positive correlation between the body length of a female worm and its number of embryos in utero was evident. Additionally the percentage of pathologically altered embryos was increased with respect to the age of the worms. The calculated fecundity of a female L. carinii in vivo of around 20 X 10(3) microfilariae/female per day had been confirmed with worms maintained in vitro. Three combinations of media and serum supplements were used and their influence on embryogenesis evaluated.