THE EFFECT OF TRICHINELLA-SPIRALIS AND TRICHINELLA-PSEUDOSPIRALIS ON THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF MAMMALIAN DIAPHRAGM MUSCLE

The isometric mechanical properties of diaphragm muscle were studied i n mice infected with either Trichinella spiralis or Trichinella pseudo spiralis. Measurements of muscle stress were taken at 15, 20, 30 and 4 0 days post-infection. Infected diaphragm muscle showed a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in muscle stress during both twitch and tetanic contractions when compared with muscle from control animals. T. spiral is caused a significant reduction in resistance to muscle fatigue. The consequences of these changes in muscle function to host pathology ar e discussed, and related to previous work on the effects of Trichinell a on host biochemistry and the immune response.