THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE, PH, SODIUM-CHLORIDE, AND GLUCOSE ON THE SURVIVAL OF FEMALE THELASTOMA-BULHOESI (NEMATODA, OXYURATA)

Female Thelastoma bulhoesi, parasites of the hindgut of Periplaneta americana, were exposed to a variety of temperatures and solutions of variable pH and sodium chloride and glucose concentrations. Thelastoma bulhoesi survived more than 10 days at 27-degrees-C, in a neutral pH and 1.0% sodium chloride. Most worms could not survive 7-degrees-C for longer than 30 min. Other concentrations of hydrogen ion, sodium chloride, and glucose were less well tolerated but gave unusual bimodal results.