Host-parasite relationship of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. 2. Angiotropic behaviour and abnormal site development

Migratory young fifth-stage Angiostrongylus cantonensis transplanted intracranially into recipient rats were found to reach the lungs 3-4 days later by randomly entering cerebral veins. However, worms which were transplanted close to extracranial veins such as the jugular and femoral veins, or into the pleural and peritoneal cavities failed to enter these blood vessels. Third-stage larvae were capable of infecting rats via skin wounds. Protease activity was not detected around young fifth and third-stage larvae incubated on gelatin films. The migratory young fifth-stage worms underwent a significant growth and completed development of their reproductive system during the first week after transplantation into pleural and peritoneal cavities and subcutaneous tissues where some survived for as long as 60 days. Oviposition also occurred in the pleural cavity.