MEAGHER, S.*; DUDEK, S. N.: Physiological consequences of Trichinella spiralis (Nematoda) infection on oldfield mice (Peromyscus polionotus)
Trichinella spiralis is a nematode parasite that infects many mammals, including humans. Significant physiological changes or death can result in the host due to acute inflammatory immune responses toward the parasite. Little research has been conducted on the physiological effects of T. spiralis infection on wild host species. In this study we infected male Peromyscus polionotus (oldfield mice) with several doses of T. spiralis to determine the effects of infection on host survival, total mass change and relative organ masses. We found that large doses (greater than 600 T. spiralis juveniles) significantly reduced survival. There was a significant negative correlation between intensity (log10 juveniles/gram) and mass change over time. Infection had no effect on liver or spleen size. However, there were significant negative correlations between T. spiralis intensity and both relative testis and seminal vesicle masses. These effects on male reproductive organs may help explain behavioral changes such as the elimination of male dominance, seen in previous studies of mice infected with T. spiralis.
