Intensified morphological variability during patency in Hymenolepis diminuta originating from inbred tapeworm--WMS...

Variable position of genital ducts and pores (PGP) was found in 23.3% of five months old tapeworms obtained as a result of administering to rats a dose of 6 cysticercoids proceeding from the third generation of inbred Hymenolepis diminuta--WMS il1. In tapeworms coming from generations no 18 and 32 PGP changes were reported only in 7.5 month, with only 5.9% of strobilas in the 32 generation group being characterized by this feature. These results indicate a time shift with respect to the appearance of PGP changes in tapeworms proceeding from latter inbred generations to a further period of tapeworm invasion in rats. The number of PGP changes is positively correlated with the number of type 2p1a proglottids (two testes on the poral and one on the aporal side). The average number of type Op3a proglottids increases with the number of generations. In 5-month old tapeworms of unilateral PGP coming from generation no 3, 18 and 32 it amounts to 5.9%, 6.6% and 8.1%, respectively.