Evaluation of the infectivity of Trichinella spp. for reptiles (Caiman sclerops)

Experimental inoculation with nine well-characterised Trichinella isolates was performed on caimans (Caiman sclerops) to determine their infectivity f or reptiles belonging to the family Crocodilidae. As controls, the same lar val batches of Trichinella isolates were inoculated into mice and guinea pi gs, It was suggested that Trichinella pseudospiralis was more likely to inf ect reptiles than encapsulating species, but whereas all Trichinella specie s established in mice and guinea pigs, the caimans remained negative. The f inding that caimans could not be experimentally infected contrasts with a r ecent report on infections in farmed crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus). (C) 1998 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Elsevier Science Lt d. All rights reserved.