Cestode egg production dynamics and fertility in Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Cestoda, Pseudophyllidea)

Dynamics of egg production of the tapeworm Diphyllobothrium dendriticum has been estimated experimentally in nestlings of the herring gull Larus argentatus per day and per reproductive period. The number of eggs in strobiles has been estimated for the maturation period. Mean egg production of the tapeworm per day (10.43 +/- 2.72 mln) is two orders of magnitude as high as the maximum number of eggs in a mature strobile (0.206 +/- 0.007). It is proposed to estimate coefficient of reproduction intensity as the ratio of egg output per unit of time and maximum egg number in a mature strobile.