[Development of early larval forms of Moniezia expansa under laboratory conditions]

Three species of oribatid mites: Scheloribates latipes, Pergalumna nervosa and Ceratozetes sp. were experimentally infected with Moniezia expansa eggs or oncospheres. The intermediate hosts were kept under constant laboratory conditions at 27 degrees C and 80% relative humidity. Three species of oribatid mites became infected and completely developed cestode cysticercoids were found. The early part of life cycle of M. expansa was studied in S. latipes. The mites were examined on 20th, 24th and 29th day after cestode oncosphera invasion. A fully formed cysticercoid of M. expansa was observed on 29th day after infection. The mean of intensity of infection was 1-5 cysticercoids per mite. The infected and living oribatid mites could be kept under laboratory conditions for 7 months. The cysticercoids which had been recovered from S. latipes after this time were able to infect sheep.