ABSTRACT
Naive and chronically infected C57BL/6 mice were challenged percutaneously over the ear pinna with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae. After 15 hours, the number of EOS increased significantly in the skin of chronically infected mice. Inflammatory cells aggre-gated in the vicinity of schisto.somula or entrapped intact and disintegrated schistosomula, forming granulocytic micro-abscesses in both groups. Ultrastructure studies revealed that flattened EOS tightly attached to the schistosomulum surface and degranulated. Local tegument damage occurred in the area of attacbment. NEU adherence did not seem to be as intimate as EOS, and degranulation was not seen. The tegument of the attached schis-tosoniulum remained normal. The result suggested that EOS appeared to be the efficient killer cell against skin phase schistosomula of S. japonicum (Figs. 1-6).