Changes in serum lipids of mice experimentally infected with schistosoma mansoni

ABSTRACT

Serum samples of mice infected with 80 cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni for different time periods [2 - 20 weeks] were used in this study. It was observed that the concentrations of serum total cholesterol and triacylglycerol decreased significantly [P <0.001, P <0.0001, respectively] in infected as compared with control mice, starting from the 4th week post infection. Similarly, the concentration of serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C] decreased significantly in infected as compared with control mice. However, the serum lipoproteins profile was variable at different stages of infection. On the other hand, the liver weight increased significantly in infected as compared with control mice, starting from the 6th week post infection. These changes might be attributed to several metabolites released by S. mansoni, which affect the host hepatic tissue resulting in decreased synthesis of these parameters and their release into the circulation