Maintenance of resistance to challenge infection, reduction in tissue egg load and hepatic granuloma modulation in treated schistosoma mansoni infection

ABSTRACT

In this work 100 Swiss albino mice were infected with Schistosoma mansoni. A combined regimen of Praziquantal and Colchicine was used three weeks post infection. After the second dose of Praziquantel a challenge infection was given to a number of mice in each group. Parasitological, pathological and immunological studies were carried out on mice sacrificed eight weeks post infection. Egg excretion was earlier in the group of mice which received Colchicine only. It was significantly higher in mice treated with combined therapy than in Praziquantel treated mice. Egg load in the livers and intestines was reduced after Praziquantel treatment and with combined treatment. These were more apparent in the intestine. As regards resistance to challenge infection, mice treated with Colchicine and Praziquantal still maintained their resistance to challenge infection than mice treated with Praziquantel only. Pathological changes in the liver showed reduction in the size of the granulomas in mice treated with Colchicine and in group that received combined therapy. Immunological changes were monitored by the level of nitrogen and oxygen metabolites from the peritoneal macrophages