Comparison of morphology, pathogenicity and drug response among three isolates of Schistosoma japonicum in the mainland of China.
Geographic differences among isolates of Schistosoma japonicum from Anhui Province (A) in the east, Guangxi Autonomous Region (G) in the south and Yunnan Province (Y) in the southwest of mainland of China were studied. C57BL mice were used to compare these isolates. Morphologically, both male and female worms of isolate Y were shorter than those of isolates A and G, and the ovary of female worm of isolate G was the smallest. In isolate A, the percentage of male worms bearing 7 testes was 87%, while 64% of isolate Y and 75% of isolate G were with 7 testes. As to the volume of hepatic egg granuloma which was used as a parameter of pathogenicity in our experiment, that of isolate G was the smallest. The sensitivity to praziquantel of isolates was estimated by parasite reduction rate at ED50 (230 mg/kg) level. It was found that isolate Y's response was significantly higher than that of isolates A and G, and the latter two were similar in drug response. The results indicate significant differences among the three isolates studied.
Wang
X Q
XQ
Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shanghai.
Mao
S P
SP
D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000494:pharmacology; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity
D011223:Praziquantel