Abstract
Ligated intestines of rabbits, mice, rats and chickens were used to examine the penetration of newly excysted juvenile flukes of Japanese Fasciola sp. in vitro. In rabbit intestines, the penetration rate was relatively high in the rectum and duodenum. Penetration rates in the jejunum, ileum, cecum and colon were comparable to those in the rectum and duodenum, although it was lower in the appendix. In the case of mouse, juvenile flukes penetrated the duodenum, jejunum, cecum, and rectum at considerably high rates. In rat intestine, penetration by flukes was less in the duodenum and rectum, although flukes were detected in the jejunum. In chicken intestine, flukes barely penetrated the duodenum, jejunum and rectum. Consequently, newly excysted flukes of Fasciola sp. seem to penetrate any region of the intestine in rabbits and mice. In rats, the middle small intestine may be the site suitable for flukes to penetrate. In chickens, the difficulty in penetration of the intestinal wall may be one of the reasons why chickens are scarcely infected with Fasciola sp.
