The effects of chronic disulfiram treatment on mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni.
Compounds which block the formation of the egg shell in female schistosomes are thought to have chemotherapeutic value. One of these compounds, disulfiram, when given chronically in the diet produced a 60% reduction in the mortality of mice carrying a heavy schistosome burden. This reduction in mortality was associated with an 80% decrease in granuloma formation. On the other hand, there was no decrease in the amount of periportal inflammation in drug-treated animals. While the use of this drug results in significant amelioration of schistosomal pathology, its effects are rapidly reversible, thus severely limiting its chemotherapeutic potential.
D000818:Animals; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology
D004221:Disulfiram