Age- and sex-related changes in susceptibility of Wistar rats to Strongyloides venezuelensis infection

The effects of host age and sex on susceptibility to Strongyloides venezuelensis in Wistar rats were examined by counting larvae recovered from the lungs of animals 3 days after infection. The susceptibility of female rats to S. venezuelensis rapidly decreased with age and elevated estrogen. Resistance in female rats inoculated at 6 and 10 weeks of age was nine and twenty-fold higher, respectively than that in the youngest group (3 weeks). In contrast, the susceptibility of male animals was lowest in the youngest group, then increased with age and elevated testosterone. Sex differences in susceptibility were not evident in the youngest group, but became apparent with age.