effect of praziquantel and histamine and serotonin blockers on portal pressure and hepatic granuloma in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of Schistosomiasis mansoni infestation on the morbidity of the disease expressed in terms of portal pressure, liver granuloma diameter and blood levels of histamine and serotonin. These parameters were evaluated in infected untreated and treated mice either Praziquantel [PZQ] alone or combined with histamine and serotonin blockers. A total of 922 Swiss albino CFW1 mice were included in the study. The results of the present work showed that treatment with PZQ caused a significant increase in portal pressure, histamine and serotonin blood levels with a significant decrease in hepatic granuloma diameter. Combination of PZQ with histamine [H1] blocker or serotonin antagonist [5-HT2 blocker] produced significant reduction in portal pressure and granuloma diameter without affecting the blood level of histamine or serotonin respectively when compared with PZO treated group. On the other hand, combination of PZQ with H2 blocker had no significant effect on any of the parameters studied. These findings point to role of H1 or 5-HT2 blockers in the control of schistosome disease morbidity particularly in cases subjected to specific chemotherapy such as Praziquantel