Tegumental changes in 21-day-old Schistosoma mansoni harboured in mice treated with artemether

Alterations in the tegument of 21-day-old Schistosoma mansoni, caused by artemether administered to the infected mice, were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mice were infected with S. mansoni cercariae, and after 21 days a single dose of artemether (400 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically. After 24, 72 h and 7 days groups of three mice were killed and the schistosomules collected by perfusion, fixed and processed routinely, and examined by SEM. After 24 h, all male and female worms examined showed alterations in the tegument, characterised by swelling, vesiculation and fusion of tegumental ridges; peeling, erosion and collapse of damaged tegumental surface, and also destruction of the oral sucker and acetabulum. After 72 h, severe damage to the tegument was seen, usually including extensive peeling, swelling and vesiculation, and host leukocytes were adhered to the damaged surface. Some worms were surrounded by clusters of host leukocytes or had even disintegrated. Seven days after treatment, some schistosomules still showed severe tegumental damage, but in some cases the damage was less than at earlier times, which suggested that those schistosomules that had survived were beginning to recover. The ability of artemether to cause severe damage to the tegument correlates with its high efficacy in killing 21-day-old schistosomules.     

Transmission electron microscopic observations on ultrastructural damage in juvenile Schistosoma mansoni caused by artemether.

Artemether, a derivative of the antimalarial artemisinin, has been shown to induce rapid and extensive alteration to the tegument of juvenile Schistosoma japonicum, S. mansoni and S. haematobium. Less is known with regard to ultrastructural damage caused by artemether; therefore, the present work was designed to assess the damage in juvenile S. mansoni. Mice infected with S. mansoni were treated intragastrically with a single dose of 400 mg/kg artemether 21 days post-infection. Between 8 h and 14 days after treatment groups of two mice were sacrificed, and schistosomula recovered for transmission electron microscopic observations. Ultrastructural damage was seen in the tegument, subtegumental musculature, parenchymal tissues and gastrodermis. It was already apparent 8 h after drug administration and increased gradually to reach a peak, 7 days post-treatment. Tegumental alterations were characterised by swelling, vesiculation and degeneration of sensory structures. Damage in subtegumental musculature, parenchymal tissues and gastrodermis included swelling, focal or extensive lysis, and decrease in granular endoplasmatic reticulum. Fourteen days after treatment ultrastructural damage was still seen in most schistosomula, however, there was partial repair in some specimens. The ability of artemether to cause extensive ultrastructural damage to juvenile S. mansoni correlates with its schistosomicidal effects and confirms earlier findings with S. japonicum.     

蒿甲醚对感染小鼠体内埃及血吸虫超微结构的影响

目的 观察蒿甲醚对小鼠体内埃及血吸虫成虫超微结构的损害。 方法 8只小鼠于感染埃及血吸虫尾蚴后81 d用单剂蒿甲醚400 mg/kg口服治疗。治后24 h、3 d、7 d和14 d各剖杀2只小鼠，用灌注法收集血吸虫，并按常规方法固定和处置虫体，作透射电镜观察。从另2只未治疗的感染小鼠体内取虫作对照。 结果 蒿甲醚对血吸虫皮层超微结构的损害主要是皮层基质的肿胀、溶解和空泡变化，基底膜消失和部份受损皮层破裂；在感觉器和皮层结节中，常见其内部结构广泛溶解。在肌层、实质组织、合体细胞和肠管上皮细胞中，查见局灶性或广泛的溶解、粗面内质网减少及线粒体空泡变化和变性。雌虫卵黄细胞的严重变化是空泡变化、粗面内质网减少、卵黄球融合以及受损卵黄细胞破溃等。上述雌、雄虫变化于感染小鼠用蒿甲醚治疗后24 h即可见到，并逐渐加重，3~7 d后最重。治后14 d，部分雌、雄虫仍示有超微结构的损害，但同时亦观察到受损虫组织的恢复。 结论 蒿甲醚对埃及血吸虫成虫的皮层和皮层下组织具有广泛和严重的超微结构损害。     

蒿甲醚对感染小鼠体内埃及血吸虫皮层的损害

目的 评价蒿甲醚对小鼠体内埃及血吸虫皮层的损害作用。 方法 8只小鼠于感染埃及血吸虫尾蚴后81 d，用单剂蒿甲醚400 mg/kg口服治疗。治疗后1、3、7和14 d各剖杀2只小鼠，用灌注法收集血吸虫，并按常规方法固定和处置虫体，作扫描电镜观察。从另2只未作治疗的感染小鼠取虫作对照。 结果 用蒿甲醚治疗后24 h，雄虫的皮层结节肿大、破溃或从皮层上剥落; 在雄虫和雌虫的体表可查见有局灶性或广泛的皮层肿胀、融合、空泡变化、糜烂和剥落，以及感觉结构的破坏。治疗后3 d，雌、雄虫的皮层损害加重，最严重的损害为口吸盘肿胀和破溃，并查见皮层褶嵴有广泛和严重的肿胀、糜烂和剥落，以及雌虫盘状感觉结构的破坏。治疗后7至14 d，有些虫仍示有中或重度皮层损害，而有些仍存活的虫则示其大部分皮层已有明显恢复。 结论 蒿甲醚对埃及血吸虫的皮层具有广泛和严重的损害作用。     

Effect of combined treatment with praziquantel and artemether on Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mansoni in experimentally infected animals

Praziquantel and artemether are safe and efficacious antischistosomal drugs that act against different developmental stages of the parasite: praziquantel against adult worms and artemether against schistosomula. A combined treatment has been suggested as a strategy for transmission control. Recent laboratory experiments with rabbits with a mixed infection of Schistosoma japonicum parasites of different ages confirmed the effectiveness of a combination therapy. In the present work, we assessed the effect of a combined treatment on adult worms of S. japonicum and found significantly higher worm reduction rates than with a single dose of praziquantel. In a next step, we extended the study of the combined treatment to Schistosoma mansoni. A combined treatment with 75 mg/kg praziquantel and 150 mg/kg artemether was administered to hamsters infected with juvenile and adult S. mansoni. The two drugs, administered simultaneously or spaced by 6 h, 1, 3 or 7 days, resulted in significantly higher worm reduction rates than a single treatment with praziquantel. A combination therapy with increased doses of 100 mg/kg praziquantel and 300 mg/kg artemether showed very high worm reduction rates of 90% and above, however, some hamsters died in five different combined treatment experiments, suggesting that these drug concentrations were too high. We conclude that a combined treatment with praziquantel and artemether at the lower doses is safe and more effective than praziquantel alone, which forms a foundation for designing respective clinical trials in humans.     

Randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial of oral artemether for the prevention of patent Schistosoma haematobium infections

Artemether is an efficacious antimalarial drug that also displays antischistosomal properties. Laboratory studies have found that artemether curtails the development of adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum, S. mansoni and S. haematobium, and thus prevents morbidity. These findings have been confirmed in clinical trials for the former two parasites; administered orally once every 2-3 weeks, artemether significantly reduced the incidence and intensity of patent infections. Here, we present the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of artemether against S. haematobium, done in a highly endemic area of C?te d'Ivoire. Urine specimens from 440 schoolchildren were examined over 4 consecutive days, followed by two systematic praziquantel treatments 4 weeks apart. S. haematobium-negative children were randomized to receive 6 mg/kg artemether (N = 161) or placebo (N = 161). Medication was administered orally for a total of six doses once every 4 weeks. Adverse events were assessed 72 hours after medication, and perceived illness episodes were monitored throughout the study period. Incidence and intensity of S. haematobium infections, and microhematuria and macrohematuria were assessed 3 weeks after the final dosing. We also monitored malaria parasitemia and treated positive cases with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP). Oral artemether was well tolerated. The incidence of patent S. haematobium infections in artemether recipients was significantly lower than in placebo recipients (49% versus 65%, protective efficacy: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.08-0.38, P = 0.007). The geometric mean infection intensity in the artemether group was less than half that of the placebo recipients (3.4 versus 7.4 eggs/10 mL urine, P < 0.001). Heavy S. haematobium infections, microhematuria and macrohematuria, and the incidence of malaria parasitemia were all significantly lower in artemether recipients. In conclusion, previous findings of efficacy of artemether against S. japonicum and S. mansoni were confirmed for S. haematobium, although the protective efficacy was considerably lower. These findings enlarge the scope and potential of artemether and further contribute to discussions of its role as an additional tool for integrated schistosomiasis control.     

Artemether, an effective new agent for chemoprophylaxis against shistosomiasis in China: its in vivo effect on the biochemical metabolism of the Asian schistosome.

Conventional drug chemotherapy against human schistosomiasis currently relies on treatment with praziquantel to eliminate adult schistosome worm pairs. The use of praziquantel for control purposes is limited, however, by high rates of post-treatment re-infection with subsequent parasite egg deposition and host end-organ damage. Artemether, a methyl ether derivative of the anti-malarial drug quinghaosu, was discovered recently to also have anti-schistosomal properties. Because artemether selectively targets the larval migratory stages of the parasite, known as schistosomulae, it blocks the development of ovipositing adult schistosome worm pairs in the vasculature. On this basis, we have since shown in clinical trials conducted in China that artemether has proven benefit as an agent for chemoprophylaxis. In vivo studies using laboratory animals suggest that artemether causes damage to the tegument and musculature of schistosomulae. Artemether may exert its helminthotoxic effect through synergy with hemin or related heme-containing compounds. Schistosomes recovered from artemether treated laboratory animals have increased glycogen phosphorylase activity, but decreased glucose uptake. These findings may account for their decreased glycogen content, relative to schistosomes recovered from untreated laboratory animals. The artemether-damaged schistosomes also have decreased activities of a number of enzymes and enzyme systems, including glycolysis. This might suggest common pathways by which artemether may target human parasites that live in the bloodstream.     

仓鼠感染美洲钩虫第三期感染性幼虫后获得性免疫的皮肤组织病理学观察

目的 观察仓鼠感染美洲钩虫第3期感染性幼虫(NaL3)后攻击感染NaL3时其皮肤组织病理改变以及NaL3的组织形态学变化,寻找仓鼠感染NaL3后对攻击感染NaL3的获得性免疫证据.方法 将仓鼠分为攻击感染组和对照组.攻击感染组仓鼠先经皮肤感染NaL3 150条,2周后与对照组同时感染NaL3 900条并于感染后6,24,72 h和1,2同时取感染部位皮肤,观察组织病理反应以及NaL3的组织形态变化.结果 对照组6,24,72 h和1,2周的NaL3的切面数分别为15,33,11,0,0个,其变性和死亡虫体切面数均为0个.所有虫体切面形态结构完整清晰,皮肤组织亦未出现明显的炎细胞反应.攻击感染组6,24,72 h和1,2周的NaL3的切面数分别为25,53,15,5,4个,变性虫体切面数为0,24,6,0,0个,死亡虫体切面数为0,0,7,5,4个.24 h起虫体角皮粗糙,肿胀,72 h虫体内部结构疏松,细胞核固缩,甚至模糊不清,1周后虫体切面遭明显破坏,隐约可见其残骸.皮肤组织内炎症反应主要有巨噬细胞,类上皮细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞浸润以及死虫肉芽肿形成.结论 仓鼠感染NaL3后埘攻击感染NaL3产生了抵抗力,其获得性免疫反应程度强烈.     

蒿甲醚对曼氏血吸虫的作用:剂量与效应的关系和虫的形态学和组织病理学的变化

目的　应用感染曼氏血吸虫 (利比里亚株 )的小鼠观察蒿甲醚单剂量与效应的关系,虫体肝移及蒿甲醚所引起的虫的形态学和组织病理学变化。　方法　感染21d童虫的小鼠一次口服蒿甲醚12.5mg/kg至600mg/kg不同剂量 ,治后28d剖检观察各组虫数。感染46d或70d成虫的小鼠一次口服蒿甲醚40 0mg/kg后8～14d ,观察虫体肝移及其形态和组织病理学变化。　结果　蒿甲醚对21d童虫的最低有效剂量为200mg/kg ,减虫率为 81%。用蒿甲醚治疗后8h成虫开始肝移,3～7d全部肝移,14d有31%的虫返回肠系膜静脉。成虫虫体萎缩,咽部扩大,肠管膨胀及其色素减少。雌虫局部体表受损,白细胞附着,卵巢及卵黄腺变性退化,以及雄虫睾丸萎缩等。在肝内的虫体被嗜酸粒细胞为主的炎细胞包围和浸润。　结论　蒿甲醚对小鼠曼氏血吸虫21d童虫的最低有效剂量为200mg/kg ,可引起曼氏血吸虫成虫萎缩、退化或死亡。在肝内受损的虫体主要是被嗜酸粒细胞包围和侵袭所致。     

蒿甲醚对血吸虫超微结构的影响

蒿甲醚是青蒿素的一个衍生物,不仅是有效的抗疟药,而且对血吸虫特别是血吸虫童虫亦有效,并已在20世纪末被发展为预防血吸虫病的药物.为了了解蒿甲醚的抗血吸虫作用,除观察其对血吸虫生化代谢的影响外,还用扫描电镜和透射电镜观察了蒿甲醚对感染人体的主要3种血吸虫,即日本血吸虫、曼氏血吸虫和埃及血吸虫超微结构的影响,结果表明蒿甲醚不仅损害血吸虫的皮层、感觉器和皮层结节,而且对虫的肌层、实质组织、肠上皮细胞和卵黄细胞等亦引起广泛的损害.该文综述了蒿甲醚对这3种血吸虫超微结构损害的观察结果,并进行了讨论.     

Tegumental changes in adult Schistosoma mansoni harboured in mice treated with praziquantel enantiomers

Praziquantel administered to the host causes damage to the tegument of Schistosoma mansoni. In this study, the effects of racemic praziquantel (Pra) and its enantiomers, levo-praziquantel (L-Pra) and dextro-praziquantel (D-Pra) were compared using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mice infected with S. mansoni for 49 days were treated with a single dose of Pra (300 mg/kg), L-Pra (150 mg/kg) or D-Pra (150 or 600 mg/kg). Groups of three mice were killed after 4 and 24 h, and schistosomes collected by perfusion and examined by SEM. Treatment with Pra or L-Pra, for 4 or 24 h, caused tegumental damage to S. mansoni including severe swelling, vacuolization, fusion of the tegumental ridges and loss or shortening of the spines on the tubercles, collapse and peeling. After treatment with D-Pra at 150 mg/kg, no apparent damage was observed. When the dosage was increased to 600 mg/kg, after 4 h lesions on the tegument similar to those induced by Pra or L-Pra were seen, but less severe. After 24 h, there was evidence of recovery. The study thus clearly showed that L-Pra was more active than D-Pra in causing tegumental damage. D-Pra showed a qualitatively similar activity at a higher concentration. It is possible that this effect was due at least to some extent to the small amount of L-Pra (<2%) which was present in the preparation of D-Pra used.     

Antischistosomal action of atorvastatin alone and concurrently with medroxyprogesterone acetate on Schistosoma haematobium harboured in hamster: surface ultrastructure and parasitological study

Aiming to study the influence of long-term administration of lipid lowering agents (atorvastatin; AV), and to study the action of combined treatment with injectable contraceptive (medroxyprogesterone acetate; MPA) on tegumental ultrastrucutre and survival of Schistosoma worms, this study was established. AV (0.9 mg kg-1) was administered orally for 49 successive days to Schistosoma heamatobium-infected hamster starting from day 35 post-infection (pi). Another group of infected hamster was administrated MPA intramuscularly (0.1 ml kg-1) at days 7 and 35 pi followed by AV treatment regimen. Both treatment regimens significantly affected the surface ultrastructure of the male worms more pronouncedly than the female ones. Combined treatment was more severe in action compared to single one. The combined treatment was characterized by losing of spines and damaging of tubercles throughout the tegument, severe erosion and peeling and appearance of deep crakes in different parts of the tegument. Moreover, mild to sever destruction to the oral suckers of both female and male worms was noticed. On the other hand, both treatment regimens significantly reduced numbers of recovered S. haematobium worms and tissue egg load. Oogram pattern was affected only in case of combined treatment with high percentage of dead eggs. In conclusion, AV, if given continuously for long time, has a pronounced antischistosomal action especially when accompanied with contraceptive intake. These promising results may encourage further investigation with the intention of their possible application on treatment of schistosomiasis as a complement strategy to praziquantel chemotherapy.     

蒿甲醚和青蒿琥酯对感染曼氏血吸虫小鼠治疗作用的初步研究

目的了解蒿甲醚和青蒿琥酯对小鼠曼氏血吸虫作用的效果.方法将小鼠随机分成12个实验组及1个对照组,以皮下注射的方法,每鼠接种约80条尾蚴,接种尾蚴46 d后,分别以蒿甲醚或青蒿琥酯灌胃治疗,第1天,分别以400、300、200 mg/kg的剂量1次灌胃;第2～7天,则每天分别按以上剂量的半量灌胃,7 d灌胃的总剂量分别为1 600、1 200、800 mg/kg.总量1剂组,在第7天,分别按1 600、1 200、800 mg/kg剂量1次灌胃.另设感染阳性对照组,不加治疗. 结果蒿甲醚7日疗法1 600、1 200、800 mg/kg剂量组减虫率分别为53.0%、49.0%和53.0%,减雌率为78.0%～82.0%,总量1剂组效果与7日疗法基本相同.青蒿琥酯7日疗法相应剂量减虫率分别为16.0%、37.0%和49.0%.结论蒿甲醚和青蒿琥酯对小鼠曼氏血吸虫具有一定的杀虫效果,蒿甲醚在疗效和毒性方面稍佳.     

青蒿琥酯治疗小鼠日本血吸虫病的血清学研究

目的观察青蒿琥酯对日本血吸虫感染小鼠的治疗作用及血清IgG的动态变化，探讨血清抗体与体外杀童虫效果的相关性。方法用日本血吸虫感染C57／BL6小鼠，在感染后8、15、22和29d分别一次性灌服300mg／kg青蒿琥酯，对照组小鼠灌服1％羧甲基纤维素钠。最后一次给药后7d剖杀小鼠，计算成虫数和虫卵数，以ELISA法检测小鼠血清中日本血吸虫特异性IgG抗体的水平，观察接受青蒿琥酯治疗的小鼠血清与巨噬细胞体外协同杀伤日本血吸虫童虫的效应。结果青蒿琥酯治疗组小鼠未检获成虫和虫卵；血清中日本血吸虫尾蚴抗原特异的IgG抗体水平在感染后21d达高峰，此后下降；成虫抗原特异的IgG抗体水平呈上升态势，二者与对照组比较差异均无显著性；青蒿琥酯治疗小鼠血清中虫卵抗原特异的IgG抗体呈低水平状态，显著低于对照组。青蒿琥酯治疗组小鼠血清和对照组小鼠血清均具有较强的体外杀童虫效果。结论青蒿琥酯对日本血吸虫感染的小鼠具有显著的治疗效果，其血清与巨噬细胞在体外具有协同杀伤童虫的作用。     

Time-dependent tegumental surface changes in juvenile Fasciola gigantica in response to triclabendazole treatment in goat

Triclabendazole (TCBZ), the anthelmintic drug active against both mature and immature liver flukes, was used to investigate the effect of in vivo treatment on the tegumental surface of juvenile Fasciola gigantica. Five goats were infected with 150 F. gigantica metacercariae each by oral gavage. Four of them were treated with single dose of TCBZ at 10 mg/kg at four weeks post-infection. They were euthanized at 0 (untreated), 24, 48, 72 and 96 h post treatment. Juvenile flukes were manually retrieved from the goat livers and processed for scanning electron microscopy. In control flukes, the anterior region was adorned with sharply pointed spines projecting away from the surface, while in the posterior region, spines become shorter and narrower, loosing serration and with the appearance of distinct furrows and papillae. The dorsal surface retained the same pattern of surface architecture similar to that of ventral surface. Flukes obtained from 24 h post-treatment did not show any apparent change and were still very active. However, there were limited movements and some blebbing, swelling, deposition of tegumental secretions and some flattening displayed by the flukes of 48 h post-treatment. All the worms were found dead 72 h post-treatment and showed advanced level of tegumental disruptions, consisting of severe distortion of spines, sloughing off the tegument to expose the basal lamina, formation of pores and isolated patches of lesions. By 96 h post-treatment, the disruption was extremely severe and the tegument was completely sheared off causing deeper lesions that exposed the underlying musculature. The disruption was more severe at posterior than anterior region and on ventral than dorsal surface. The present study further establishes the time-course of TCBZ action in vivo with 100% efficacy against the juvenile tropical liver fluke.     

Infection induces antibodies against the cercarial secretions, but not against the cercarial elastases of Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma japonicum and Trichobilharzia ocellata

Cercarial secretions from different species of the parasite Schistosoma and from Trichobilharzia ocellata contain a proteolytic activity, cercarial elastase, which was demonstrated by a 30 kDa band in gelatin gels. Sera of patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium or Schistosoma japonicum contain immunoglobulin G which react in ELISA with cercarial secretions from all schistosomes and cross-react among the different parasite species. In Western blots, however, infection sera from patients, as well as heavily infected mice or rabbits, did not react with a 30-kDa protein. Moreover, when sections from infected snails (Biomphalaria, Bulinus and Lymnaea) were analysed by immunofluorescence using the same infection sera, only the tegument of the developing cercariae was recognized, but not the acetabular glands. In contrast, when antisera against purified cercarial elastase from either S. mansoni or S. haematobium were tested with sections of infected Biomphalaria or Bulinus, fluorescence was strong in the preacetabular glands of the cercariae of either species, but undetectable with the tegument. Cross-reactivity of both antisera extended to T. ocellata-infected Lymnaea, but not to S. japonicum-infected Oncomelania. In conclusion, although immunization with purified cercarial elastase results in antibody production, the enzyme does not induce an apparent antibody response following natural infection.     

环孢素A体外抗曼氏血吸虫雄虫的时间生物学研究

目的：探讨环孢素Ａ体外抗曼氏血吸虫的作用。方法：ＭＦ１小鼠实验感染曼氏血吸虫６ｗｋ后，经主动脉和门静脉灌注收虫。将雄虫放入含有１μｇ／ｍｌ、１０μｇ／ｍｌ、１５μｇ／ｍｌ、２０μｇ／ｍｌ和２５μｇ／ｍｌ环孢素Ａ的１９９培养液中体外培养。用扫描电镜对药物所致的虫体皮层损害作时间生物学观察。结果：在体外，雄虫经１μｇ／ｍｌ环孢素Ａ作用后，体嵴的结构疏松；经１０μｇ／ｍｌ环孢素Ａ作用２４ｈ后，雄虫皮层肿胀；雄虫经１５μｇ／ｍｌ环孢素Ａ作用８ｈ－２４ｈ后，虫体皮层破溃；虫体经２０μｇ／ｍｌ药物作用２４ｈ后，雄虫皮层明显破溃；雄虫经２５μｇ／ｍｌ环孢素Ａ作用８ｈ后，皮层褶嵴受损；作用１６ｈ后，皮层肿胀；作用２４ｈ后，皮层极度破溃，皮棘脱落。药物所致的虫体皮层损害与剂量和时间呈依赖关系。结论：环孢素Ａ具有直接杀曼氏血吸虫的作用。     

Isolation and characterization of Schistosoma haematobium egg antigens

Schistosoma haematobium soluble egg antigen (ShSEA) was prepared from eggs isolated from the livers of hamsters or mice infected for at least 3 months. Immunoaffinity purified S. haematobium egg antigens (ShSh) were isolated by first passing ShSEA through a column containing anti-S. mansoni hamster IgG coupled to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B, and recycling the unbound fraction until no more bound material could be eluted with an acid wash. The unbound fraction was then filtered through a second antibody affinity column containing anti-S. haematobium hamster IgG, and in the acid eluate the ShSh antigens were obtained. This antigenic preparation was shown by PAGE to contain at least 6 distinct bands ranging in molecular weight (Mr) from 116 to less than 31 Kd. A 40 Kd polypeptide was identified by both silver staining and EITB as specific for S. haematobium eggs. In addition, a 55 Kd worm-egg shared antigen was identified as a prominent band in EITB expressed during a primary S. haematobium hamster infection. The sera from hamsters harboring patent S. haematobium or S. mansoni infections were reacted by ELISA with ShSh antigens. The anti-Sh sera showed significantly higher absorbance values than the anti-Sm sera, demonstrating that only a minor population of S. mansoni cross-reactive egg antigens is still present in the ShSh antigens. Sera collected weekly for 13 weeks from hamsters with a primary infection of S. haematobium were then tested by ELISA against ShSh, ShSEA and SmSEA antigens. Antibody levels against both ShSEA and SmSEA were shown to increase early in infection (2 weeks). Moreover, antibody levels to ShSh did not increase until week 5 post-infection. These findings suggest that the purification procedure utilized results in the elimination of most of the S. mansoni worm antigens cross-reactive with S. haematobium eggs. The ShSh antigens had shown a high degree of sensitivity and stage-species specificity also suggesting their potential as antigens for the immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis haematobia.     

Bulinus nyassanus is an intermediate host for Schistosoma haematobium in Lake Malawi.

At Cape Maclear on the Nankumba Peninsula, close to the southern end of Lake Malawi, Schistosoma haematobium is highly prevalent in the local people and many tourists become infected with this parasite each year. A 'Bilharzia Control Programme' was initiated in this area in August 1998, as a development collaboration between the Government of Malawi, the Danish Agency for Development Assistance (Danida), and the Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory. Although Bulinus globosus is a known host for S. haematobium, B. nyassanus has not previously been incriminated as an intermediate host. However, schistosome-infected B. nyassanus were discovered in surveys to identify transmission sites on the peninsula. Experimental infections of wild-caught B. nyassanus with S. haematobium proved successful and S. haematobium eggs were found in hamsters experimentally exposed to cercariae retrieved from schistosome-infected, field-collected B. nyassanus. These are remarkable observations since, although there are very few reports of diploid members of this species group being experimentally infected with S. haematobium, B. nyassanus is a diploid member (2n = 36) of the truncatus/tropicus group. Bulinus nyassanus is probably responsible for transmission in Lake Malawi, along rather exposed shorelines, devoid of aquatic macrophytes, with a substrate of sand or gravel.     

阿苯达唑对华支睾吸虫体壁和肠管超微结构的影响

阿苯达唑对实验大鼠体内华支睾吸虫体壁和肠管影响的超微结构观察结果表明,该药对虫体皮层和肠绒毛,在给药1h即出现皮层突起肿胀、粘连和肠绒毛肿胀,其内的点线模糊不清。给药24h损害已相当严重,皮层突起出现坏死、崩溃,部分肠绒毛溶解、坏死。而且皮层和肠管损害的发生发展过程是同步的。可以认为阿苯达唑是通过对皮层和肠管的双重损害,进而影响其生理机能,使虫体死亡的。