A simple method for collecting infective larvae of Litomosoides carinii

A method is described whereby substantial quantities of infective larvae of Litomosoides carinii can be obtained with relative ease. In each of 2 separate experiments, over 5,000 infective larvae were recovered by soaking the pelts of 5 or 7 Mongolian jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) that had been exposed for 6 or 7 hr to infected tropical rat mites (Ornithonyssus bacoti). The mites had been infected either 7 to 8 or 9 to 10 days earlier by exposure to jirds with patent infections. Ninety-four percent of the total number of infective larvae recovered and migrated out of the pelts within 2 1/2 hr. Jirds inoculated subcutaneously with infective larvae collected in this manner exhibited high mean percent recoveries at necropsy, i.e. 79 and 60 at 5 and 29 days postinoculation, respectively. In addition, the ranges in worm recoveries were narrow.