Detection of schistosomal antigens by immunoperoxidase technique in tissues of mice infected with s mansoni before and after praziquantel therapy

ABSTRACT

Using antisera prepared against S. mansoni worms, antigens could be detected in the liver, spleen and intestine of mice by the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. No antigens could be detected in the kidney although some pathological changes appeared in the glomeruli and tubules. The schistosomal antigens were detected nine weeks following infection and increased staining was observed at the 11th week. The antigens were shown in the liver, in Kupffer cells and some inflammatory cells around granulomata, in the spleen in the macrophages near the white pulp, while in the intestine in the inflammatory cells around granulomata and in some lining epithelial cells. Heavy staining was shown in the viscera of worms in the liver and intestine compared to weak staining of the cuticle. There was no marked change in the antigen detection in different tissues two weeks after praziquantel therapy, while marked decrease occurred four weeks after treatment. Immunoperoxidase technique can be considered as a rapid, easy and sensitive method for antigen detection in different tissues with schistosomiasis