Trichinella spiralis: Acceleration and inhibition of cyst calcification in rats

Summary Daily administration of vitamin D₃ (75,000 IU/kg b.wt) for 7 days acceleratedTrichinella spiralis cyst calcification in rats with a 14-week-old infection. When disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) was administered (50 mg/kg b.wt) from 2 days before until 2 days after vitamin D₃ treatment, cyst calcification was inhibited. Thus, the ability to inhibitT. spiralis calcification has been demonstrated for the first time.Supported in part by EKU faculty research grant No. 03-05.Much appreciation goes to Dr Gordon S. Hassings and the Proctor and Gamble Company, Miami Valley Laboratories, Cincinnati, Ohio USA for providing the EHDP used in this study.