ObjectiveTo establish an animal model of Echinococcus muhilocularis (E. m) infection in Cricetulus migratorius, and observe the growth of E. m in the peritoneal cavity of C. migratorius.MethodsC. migratorius was inoculated into the peritoneal cavity in a dose of 2000 cephalomeres of E. m in each animal. The cyst weight and positive antibody were measured, and the cyst weight/body weight ratio was calculated. The growth of E. m was observed in the C. migratorius at 0,5, 8,2, 0,0, 0,0 days after inoculation. Growth and the infection rate of E. m cysts was compared at 100 days after inoculation into 10 animals at a dose of 0,0 or 2000 E. m cephalomeres, respectively. ResultsFifty nine of the 62 C. migratorus were infected by E. m. Mature E. m cephalomeres were observed at 18 days after inoculation and the infection rate reached 100%. Positive antibody was observed at 15 days after inoculation. The cyst weight/body weight ratio was over 15% at 60 days after inoculation. A 100% infection rate was observed at 100 days after inoculation at the three doses. ConclusionsAn animal model of peritoneal Echinococcus muhilocularis infection in Cricetulus migratorius is successfully established, with the characteristics of high infection rate, short period of infection, easy observation of the growth of E. m and antibody titer on these animal models. Sixty days after inoculation of E. m can be used as observation period of the animal modeling in C. migratorius. The cyst weight/body weight ratio, antibody titer and level of cyst growth can be used as the major reference indicators of E. m infection modeling. Females are better than males for making animal models of E. m infection in C. migratorius.