AIM: To study the effect of S. mansoni infection in fertility using a mouse model.
BACKGROUND: - Our group is listed in the Top 10 most publishing authors in the field of schistosomiasis as a cause of infertility; - Estrogen-like molecules produced by schistosomes haematobia and mansoni induce hormonal imbalances in infected persons; - These estrogenic metabolites down-regulate Estrogen Receptor in an in vitro model; - We have identified these estrogenic metabolites as catechol-estrogens (oxidative metabolites derived from estrogens); - These catechol-estrogens were found to be associated with infertility in women infected with S. haematobium.N/
