Effects of gamma-irradiation on the infectivity and chromosome aberration of Clonorchis sinensis

Abstract

Effects of gamma irradiation on the worm survival and chromosomal aberration of Clonorchissinensis were studied. The metacercariae irradiated with various amounts of gamma radiation (ranging from 5Gy to 50 Gy) were fed to rats, and the effects were compared with those of non-irradiated controls. Recoveryrates of adult worms in irradiated groups were reduced gradually as increasing of the irradiation doses. Noworm was recovered from rats which were fed with 50 Gy irradiated metacercariae. The chromosome numberwas 2n = 56 in all worms from all experimental groups. However, the groups irradiated with 20 Gy, 25 Gy or30 Gy showed variations in the chromosome number, depending on different cells in the same individual.Radiation doses used in this study did not appear to induce chromosome aberrations, however, irradiationwith 30 Gy showed slightly reduced chromosome size.