Strongyloides stercoralis: high worm population density leads to autoinfection in the jird (Meriones unguiculatus).

At 28 days post-infection autoinfective third-stage larvae (L3a) of Strongyloides stercoralis occurred in jirds infected with 10,000 infective third-stage (L3i). Previously in the jird model of strongyloidiasis, autoinfection had been seen in immunologically immature or immunosuppressed jirds only. The heavily infected jirds described herein had a strong anti-L3i immune response at the same time the living L3a were found in their tissues.