The course of Echinococcus multilocularis infection and pregnancy in mice model

Parasitic infection during pregnancy can affect the course of pregnancy, complicate the foeto-maternal relationship and increase abortion rate. The work was aimed to study the course of E. multilocularis secondary infection and reproductive parameters in infected mice. The Balb/c mice were bred in the exponential phase of the metacestode growth, after infection with two different doses (0.5 ml or 1.25 ml) of metacestode material. In comparison to uninfected control group, the effect of infection on reproductive parameters (natality, size of litters) and the course of disease during pregnancy and after the delivery were monitored. The weight of E. multilocularis larval stages was higher in both fertilised groups in comparison to unfertilised control. The number of deliveries and litter counts were similar in both, infected and uninfected mice. Present study confirmed only minor impact of alveolar echinococcosis on the reproduction of rodents, intermediate hosts of parasite.