Early-phase migration dynamics of Echinococcus multilocularis in two mouse strains showing different infection susceptibilities

The early-phase migration dynamics of Echinococcus multilocularis in the intermediate hosts remain largely unknown. We compared parasite burden intestine, liver and faeces DBA/2 C57BL/6 mouse strains using parasite-specific quantitative PCR. Our results indicated that parasites invaded mainly from middle segments small intestine completed to within 24 h p.i. mice had lower DNA burdens but higher than mice, suggesting invasion may be a critical stage regulating susceptibility E. infection mice.