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Ligula intestinalis--a tapeworm contraceptive
1Keele University, UK. c.arme@biol.keele.ac.uk
Biologist (London, England)
|December 18, 2002
Abstract:
Human contraceptives are 'big business', but might the real breakthrough come out from the pharmaceutical industry but from a tapeworm? Ligula intestinalis can induce infertility in infected fish of the carp family - both males and females. If the mechanism for this can be discovered, this humble flatworm could drastically change contraceptive practices with one pill for all.