•  
  •  
 

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective To assess the in-vivo effects of artemisinin (ART), arachidonic acid (ARA), and nifedipine (NIF) compared with praziquantel (PZQ) on experimental Schistosoma mansoni infection in terms of worm burden, liver histopathological, immunohistochemical alterations, cytokines changes, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on both juvenile and adult stages of S. mansoni in experimentally infected mice. Background Reliance on a single drug for schistosomiasis control may promote the spread of drug-resistant parasites. Materials and methods The study was carried out in Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (Giza, Egypt) in April 2015 and included 120 laboratory-bred female albino mice. These mice were divided into nine groups: group 1) uninfected and untreated), group 2 (infected untreated), group 3 (infected and ART treated), group 4 (infected and ARA treated), group 5 (infected and NIF treated), group 6 (infected and PZQ treated), group 7 (infected and ART plus PZQ treated), group 8 (infected and ARA plus PZQ treated), and group 9 (infected and NIF plus PZQ treated). Mice were subjected to worm burden, liver histopathology, and SEM. Results ART plus PZQ-treated mice showed the lowest total worm burden (6.10 ± 5.30), the lowest schistosomula stage worm burden (11.0 ± 1.58), the lowest adult stage worm burden (1.20 ± 0.83), the lowest granuloma number (1.60 ± 0.54), and the smallest granuloma diameter (100.20 ± 8.25 μm). NIF plus PZQ were the most effective on the schistosomula and the adult stages of S. mansoni; however, PZQ was the least effective on the schistosomula and ART was the least effective on the adult of S. mansoni by SEM. Conclusion A combination of ART plus PZQ was the most effective in reducing total, schistosomula stage, and adult stage worm burdens, and also the number and diameter of granuloma. NIF plus PZQ were the most effective against the schistosomula and the adult stages of S. mansoni by SEM, but PZQ was the least effective against schistosomula stage worm burden reduction and was the least effective against it by SEM.

Download

Share

COinS