The effects of infections of Trichinella spiralis on 10 specific-pathogen-free Beagles were examined. Eight puppies received either 100, 500, 1,000, or 5,000 larvae, and 2 adult dogs received 1,000 larvae. Blood was drawn every 4 days, beginning 5 days before infection, for the determination of relative eosinophil numbers. Creatine kinase levels were monitored before infection, two weeks after infection, and one month after infection. The dogs were euthanized 1 month postinfection, and larvae were counted in muscle digests of 10 gram samples of diaphragm, pectoralis superficialis, masseter, biceps brachii, and vastus lateralis. The dogs displayed minor signs of gastrointestinal upset during the first week after infection. The dogs also developed a slight eosinophilia with a magnitude that was dependent on the number of larvae the dog received. All infected dogs, but one that had received 500 larvae, had a positive reaction with larval excretory-secretory products of T. spiralis; adult dogs had the greatest immunologic response. The creatine kinase levels were found not to be related to either the time postinfection or the magnitude of the larval dose. The number of larvae recovered from the muscles (maximum of 70 per gram) was dependent on the dosage of larvae received, but there was no significant predilection of the larvae for any of the five examined muscle groups.

Department of Microbiology Immunology and Parasitology New York State College of Veterinary Medicine Cornell University Ithaca