Effect of capillaria hepatica infection on schistosoma mansoni challenge in mice

ABSTRACT

The combined infection between Capillaria hepatica and Schistosoma mansoni was studied. The results of this work revealed that C. hepatica infection induced significant reduction of S. mansoni worm load in the two groups infected with C. hepatica and challenged with S. mansoni either during worm maturation period of C. hepatica, or at the time of presence of C. hepatica eggs in the liver. Reduction in total and tissue egg count was also reported, but eggs excreted in the stool showed no difference in count from that of S. mansoni-infected controls. Oogram pattern of the experimental groups revealed a higher percentage of dead eggs and absence of mature and some developing stages. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated severe destruction of adult worm of both groups. All these data showed the vigorous destructive effect of C. hepatica infection on the challenged S. mansoni