Abstract
The effects of short wave length ultraviolet-irradiation (UVC, 254 nm) on the development of Trichinella spiralis were studied. Non-irradiated larvae and larvae irradiated with different u.v.-doses were inoculated orally to 5-wk-old male ICR mice. Intestinal stage adult worms and muscle stage larvae were recovered at days and 7 wks P.I., respectively. The recovery of both stages of nematodes was significantly reduced by the irradiation at 2 mJ/cm^2. The larvae irradiated by more u.v. dose completely by 2 days of inoculation. Abortive infection was confirmed by the absence of muscle stage larvae in mice inoculated with 5 mJ/cm^2 u.v.-irradiated larvae. A few muscle larvae were, however, recovered from mice inoculated with 2 mJ/cm^2 u.v.-irradiated larvae. In conclusion, it is suggested that T. spiralis larvae are highly susceptible to u.v. at 254 nm of wavelength.