RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the role of excretory and secretory (ES) products of Ascaris lumbricoides in liver damage. METHODS: The ES products of A lumbricoides were collected in vitro and their SDS-PAGE analysis was done. Feeding and subcutaneous injection of ES products were done in hamsters. Estimation of serum proteins, alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase and histology of liver were carried out. Control animal experiments were done concurrently. RESULTS: The ES products of A lumbricoides contained several proteins ranging in molecular weight from 14 to 205 Kd. Prolonged feeding of ES products caused elevation of ALT and amyloid deposition in the liver, whereas short term feeding or subcutaneous challenge caused focal cell necrosis and granuloma formation in the liver. CONCLUSION: ES products of A lumbricoides can produce liver damage.