Wasting Condition under Normal Cardiac Rhythms in Rabbits following Strongyloides papillosus Infection

Abstract

Pathogenicity of Strongyloides papillosus to rabbits was investigated by monitoring of food intake, body weight and electrocardiogram. No abnormalities were observed in rabbits infected with 10⁴ infective larvae (L₃)/kg. Rabbits given 10⁵ L₃/kg exhibited anorexia after the establishment of patent infections. Four of them died on Days 19-33 having lost 32-44% of initial body weight. The other one animal regained appetite and body weight as fecal egg output decreased. Cardiac rhythms remained normal even in the emaciation state. In lethal cases, cardiac activities finally disappeared through escape beats preceded by sinus arrhythmia as in a fasted control. These results suggest that heavy S. papillosus infection produces a wasting condition in rabbits resulting from anorexia under normal cardiac functions.