SUSCEPTIBILITY OF RODENTS TO INFECTION WITH SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI IN RICHARD-TOLL (SENEGAL)

The susceptibility of Arvicanthis niloticus, Mastomys huberti, Mastomy s erythroleucus and Mus musculus was studied to assess the capacity of these rodents to transmit Schistosoma mansoni. The susceptibility was determined by the percentage of adult schistosomes recovered, the num ber of eggs per gramme of foeces, he viability of these eggs and the c apacity of the rodents to maintain the life cycle of Schistosoma manso ni. The percentages of adult worms recovered were respectively 18 %, 1 1.5 %, 8.4 % and 20.5 % in A. niloticus, M. huberti, M. erythroleucus and M. musculus. After infection, they liberate in the environment via ble eggs whose miracidia ore infectious for the intermediate host (Bio mphalaria pfeifferi). The mean egg load was 300 +/- 327.8 in A. niloti cus; 664 +/- 673.5 in M. huberti; 240 +/- 304.8 in M. erythroleucus; 4 00 +/- 361.5 in M. musculus.