Effect of anti-schistosomal treatment on schistosomal hepatic pathology: an experimental study in Syrian golden hamsters.

Thirty Syrian golden hamsters were infected with Schistosoma mansoni and 10 were used as negative controls. Hamsters were infected by 100 cercariae; 15 were treated by praziquantel in doses of 100 mg/kg at 12, 13, 14 and 15 weeks postinfection, and 15 hamsters were left as positive control. Five from each subgroup were sacrificed at 24, 28 and 32 weeks after infection. Animals were subjected to weekly analysis for total plasma protein, serum albumin and urinary total protein excretion. At the end point, animals were sacrificed and the mesenteric venous plexus was explored for adult worms. Liver and splenic specimens were examined by light microscopy, and immunofluorescence microscopy. Complete parasite eradication was achieved in the treated animals. Although, there were significantly higher plasma total protein and albumin in the treated group, there was no significant differences in proteinuria. Histopathological examination of liver specimens showed highly significant reduction of granulomas, CAA and CCA, while amyeloid deposition showed minimal reduction in treated animals. Histopathological examination of splenic specimens showed highly significant reduction of fibrosis, granulomas, CAA and CCA, while follicular hyperplasia and amyeloid deposition showed non significant reduction.