title: Relocation of Schistosoma mansoni in the lungs and resistance to reinfection in Rattus rattus.
abstract: The localization of adult Schistosoma mansoni originating from Guadeloupe (West Indies) was analysed in the natural host Rattus rattus in experimental and natural infections. A transfer of schistosomes from the porto-mesenteric system to the lungs occurs between the 4th and the 20th weeks post-infection, with a peak between 4 and 8 weeks; it should be noted that the worms start laying eggs at 4 weeks post-infection. In both experimentally and naturally infected R. rattus the relocation of schistosomes in the lungs is correlated with the total worm burden. Between 6 and 12 weeks post-infection some adult worms and numerous eggs are trapped in the liver. A high mortality in the worm population coincides with the migration of the parasites from the porto-mesenteric veins to the lungs. In re-infected R. rattus a relationship appears between the presence of schistosomes in the lungs and resistance to reinfection. It is concluded that, as already postulated previously in mice, resistance to re-infection in the natural host R. rattus is at least partly correlated with the hepatic pathology caused by the schistosomes of the primary infection.
authors.affiliation: URA CNRS 698, Centre de Biologie et d'Ecologie Tropicale et Méditerranéenne, Université, Perpignan, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Imbert-Establet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Combes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D009115:Muridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D011168:Portal System / Q000469:parasitology; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*