THE CROWDING EFFECT AND MORPHOMETRIC VARIABILITY IN ECHINOSTOMA CAPRONI (DIGENEA: ECHINOSTOMATIDAE) FROM ICR MICE.

The article explores population density, or crowding, to determine its effects on the morphometric variability of Echinostoma Carponi in ICR mice. Discriminant function analysis yielded a 100% correct classification based on infection size, which is consistent with studies on distinct species of Echinostoma. The low recovery from the mouse infected with 300 metacercariae indications inflammatory expulsion of juvenile worms and the likelihood of immunity as a factor in the crowding effect.