Transmission and scanning electron microscopical studies in the tegument of male Schistosoma mansoni after oxamniquine treatment.

Schistosoma mansoni recovered from experimentally infected mice orally treated with oxamniquine were studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The worms were examined 24 hours, 3, 7 and 10 days after a single dose of 100 mg/Kg of the drug. After oxamniquine treatment significant structural alterations were observed in tegumental, muscular and parenchymal levels. The initial alterations were confined to basal vacuolation in the tegument and to structural disorganization both in tegumental and non tegumental cells. Ten days after treatment, intercellular oedema became more prominent originating "bubble-like" lesions with varied dimensions. The intercellular oedema leading to the "bubble" formation seems to be the most striking feature caused by oxamniquine treatment.