Résumé
The major gap of our knowledge of human resistance to schistosomiasis, the identity of effector mechanisms and target stages of parasite life cycle are questions that can be effectively addressed in animal model [Chen and Mott, 1989]. Beta-carotene, is an important micronutrient with anti-oxidant capacity widely distributed in leafy vegetables, carrots, red and yellow fruits [Bendich, 1993]. Flighty mice were included in this study to show the protective effect of beta-carotene on S. mansoni infected mice through parsitological, serological and histopathological parameters. Sacrification of mice was done 9 weeks post infection. Although beta-carotene did not protect any mice from getting S. mansoin infection, yet it reduced worm burden to about 20% and significantly reduced hepatic and intestinal tissue egg load and exert immunomodulatory effect on bilharzial granuloma which was manifest in reduction of mean granuloma diameter, more circumscription, less inflammatory cellular contents. So we recommended, the administration of beta-carotene as an adjuvant with antibilharzial therapy