title: Levamisole restored the compromised state of immunity after specific chemotherapy in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni.
abstract: Mice infected for 45 days with 120 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae and treated with levamisole (25 mg/kg subcutaneously) have more efficient acquired immunity when challenged with 240 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae the same day of treatment (97.7% # 87.7% in infected challenged controls). In praziquantel-treated mice (500 mg/kg for 2 days orally), the reduction in the percent resistance (45.5%) was accompanied by a significant diminution in the size of granuloma, delayed foot pad swelling and granuloma proportionate T-helper cells number. Levamisole when given two weeks post praziquantel treatment and with the challenge infection increased the percent resistance to 79.2%. The increase in percent resistance recorded in mice receiving both praziquantel and levamisole was accompanied by restoration of granuloma size, delayed foot pad swelling and granuloma proportionate T-helper cells number to infected challenged untreated control values. Results reveal-beside efficacy of levamisole as immunoregulant in schistosome immunity--a possible role for the granuloma as a T-cell mediated response in maintenance of immunity.
authors.affiliation: Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Warrak El-Hadar, Guiza, Egypt.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Botros
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: el-Nahal
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Azab
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Shaker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: el-Garem
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006099:Granuloma / Q000276:immunology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007978:Levamisole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007978:Levamisole; D011223:Praziquantel