THE COMMON FROG (RANA-TEMPORARIA) AS A POTENTIAL PARATENIC AND INTERMEDIATE HOST FOR ANGIOSTRONGYLUS-VASORUM

Common frogs (Rana temporaria) were exposed either to third-stage larv ae (L3) or to first-stage larvae (L1) of Angiostrongylus vasorum. Foll owing exposure to L3, viable larvae could be detected in the frogs for at least 2 weeks. Following exposure to L1, the frogs developed viabl e L3 in their tissues within 30 days. In a test of the infectivity of these larvae, one fox was fed frogs previously infected with L3 and an other fox was fed frogs previously infected with L1. On autopsy it was found that adult A. vasorum populations had been established in both foxes. Thus, it could be concluded that frogs can act not only as para tenic hosts but also as intermediate hosts for A. vasorum.