Parasitological, pathological, ultrastructural study of the effect of pentoxyifylline [PTX] anti-transforming growth factor beta [TGF beta] on S. inansoni infected mice

ABSTRACT

The main problem in schistosomal hepatic morbidity is fibrosis and extensive scarring induced by living eggs. The potential that pentoxifyllin [PTX] and anti-transforming growth factor- beta [anti-TGF beta] are anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic, urged us to study these effects parasitologically, pathologically and ultrastructurally in a murine model of schistosomiasis mansoni. Sixty albino mice were infected by subcutaneous injection of 80 +/- 20 S. mansoni cercariae/mouse. They were divided into two groups. Each group was subdivided and treated with PTX or anti- TGF beta for 3 weeks either at 4 weeks post infection [P.I] [1[St] group, acute phase] or at 12 weeks P.1. [2[nd] group, chronic phase]. Mice were sacrificed by the end of treatment [i.e. 7 and 15 weeks P.I. respectively]. A subgroup in each served as infected untreated controls. Parasitological assessment of worm burden, tissue egg load and oogram pattern was carried out. Measurement of granuloma diameter and ultrastructure of adult worms were also investigated. The study revealed decrease in the mean size of granuloma in mice treated with PTX and significant reduction in worm burden in all groups as compared to control group. Tissue egg load also significantly decreased, but no significant changes were observed in oogram pattern except an increase in number of dead ova in groups given anti- TGF beta 15 weeks following infection. Scanning electron microscopic examination of both male and female worms exposed to PTX treatment revealed tegumental changes in comparison to the control group. In conclusion effect of both PTX, anti. TGP beta regarding modulation of hepatic granulomas. Moreover it highlights thier role in produsing significant decrease in percent reduction of worm burden, egg load and increase dead ova