2 research outputs found
A comparative study of Multiple versus Single infection doses of Schistosoma haematobium in Golden hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus )
Schistosoma haematobium is widely distributed in Africa. In Kenya,
endemic areas include the upper and the lower regions of the Coast
Province, Lake Victoria and the Kano plains. Low infection rates over
prolonged periods of time characterize schistosome infections of people
living in endemic areas. However, the common laboratory practice is to
expose the definitive host to a single high dose. In order to utilize
the laboratory results appropriately, it is important to know whether
or not a large single infection has similar results to multiple small
doses. In this study, immune responses, worm burden, gross and
histopathological patterns of multiple infection of S. haematobiumium
in the Golden hamster ( Mesocricetus auratus ) were compared with
those of single exposure. Multiple infections with low doses of the
parasite did not seem to be protective, as suggested by; more worms,
worse gross and histopathology in multiple low dose group compared to
single high dose group. Most probably there is an antigenic threshold,
which needs to be attained before protective mechanisms come into play.
Although necessary for protection, there was no direct correlation
between IgG levels and degree of protection
A comparative study of Multiple versus Single infection doses of Schistosoma haematobium in Golden hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus )
Schistosoma haematobium is widely distributed in Africa. In Kenya,
endemic areas include the upper and the lower regions of the Coast
Province, Lake Victoria and the Kano plains. Low infection rates over
prolonged periods of time characterize schistosome infections of people
living in endemic areas. However, the common laboratory practice is to
expose the definitive host to a single high dose. In order to utilize
the laboratory results appropriately, it is important to know whether
or not a large single infection has similar results to multiple small
doses. In this study, immune responses, worm burden, gross and
histopathological patterns of multiple infection of S. haematobiumium
in the Golden hamster ( Mesocricetus auratus ) were compared with
those of single exposure. Multiple infections with low doses of the
parasite did not seem to be protective, as suggested by; more worms,
worse gross and histopathology in multiple low dose group compared to
single high dose group. Most probably there is an antigenic threshold,
which needs to be attained before protective mechanisms come into play.
Although necessary for protection, there was no direct correlation
between IgG levels and degree of protection