Detection of altered secondary lymphoid tissue chemkine responsiveness in balb/c mice infected with schistosoma mansoni

To determine the extent to which Balb/c mice splenic T cells were affected by S. mansoni infection, this study aims to investigate the ability of the T cells to produce interferon [IFN]-alpha, and their chemotactic ability at 7 weeks postinfection. The splenic T cells were capable of producing levels of IFN-alpha comparable with splenic T cells from naive mice. However, the T cells exhibited altered chemotactic activity, as evidenced by an inability to respond to seconddary lymphoid-tissue chemokine [SLC/CCL21]. Although no difference in chemokine expression was found between the spleens of infected versus control mice, chemokine production was greater in the livers of infected versus control mice. Collectively, these data indicate that Balb/c mice with 7-wk S. mansoni infection possess splenic T cells with altered chemotactic activity and that the alterations may be a consequence of granulomatous response in the liver

In vitro effect of mirazid on schistosoma mansoni worms

Measuring mirazid ability for contracting the worm muscle and its effect on the worm surface ultrastructure can be used to monitor the in vitro effect of any drug. This study aimed to investigate the actual effect of mirazid [a new schistosomicide, purified oleo-resin extract of myrrh, derived from Commiphora molmol plant] on S. Mansoni worms by detecting its in vitro effect. Three groups of white albino mice [five mice in each group] were infected by 100 cercariae for each mouse. The 3rd group served as a control group. Seven weeks post- infection, the mice were sacrificed, perfused and worms were collected. Muscle tension of the worms collected from the first group of mice was assayed in response to mirazid in rising concentrations of 100, 200, 300 and 400 nM. The in vitro effect of mirazid on the muscle tension of single S. Mansoni worm was determined using a special device to determine the percentage of change in work length [% shortening]

Detection of E. histolytica, G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium copro-antigens in stool samples

A double antibody sandwich ELISA technique using a chromatography purified anti sera against E. histolytica, G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium antigens was applied to detect coproantigens of the corresponding parasites in 90 patients. All positive cases were diagnosed by a parasitological examination and proved to have the infection. In addition to the 90 positive cases, 30 age-matched controls were included in the study, of which 20 individuals were infected with other parasites, but not Cryptosporidium, E. histolytica or G. lamblia [acted as an infected control group] and the other 20 individuals with no intestinal parasites [normal control group]. The assay could detect 100% of those infected with both of G. Lamblia and E. Histolytica and 96.6% of patients with Cryptosporidium infection. False positive reactions were detected in three cases using G. lamblia antisera [92.5%], five cases using E. histolytica antisera [87.5%] and two cases using Cryptosporidium antisera [95%]. A direct increase in the mean antigen level was observed with the increasing intensity of infection in the three parasites; so, higher mean OD reading was observed in the heavily infected cases than the moderately infected ones than lighter intensity of infection. Only those in the elder age group [>20 years] infected with E. Histolytica had statistically higher OD readings of the antigen than the middle age group [10-20 years]. On the other hand, no statistically significant difference was observed between the different age groups and antigen level in cases with either G. lamblia or Cryptosporidium