title: Schistosoma mekongi and Schistosoma japonicum: Differences in the distribution of eggs in the viscera of mice.
abstract: The difference in the distribution of Schistosoma eggs in the viscera has not been clearly elucidated in the two closely related species Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mekongi. In this study, we quantitatively compared the distribution of eggs in mice infected with the two species. In S. mekongi-infected mice, 56.6% to 69.4% of total eggs were found in the distal small intestine 9 to 15 weeks after infection, while in S. japonicum-infected mice, 48.8% to 71.8% of eggs were found in the proximal small intestine during the same period. There were significantly more eggs in the liver in mice infected with S. japonicum than in those infected with S. mekongi. The number of adult worms recovered did not differ between the two species during the study period. The total number of eggs laid in the tissues also did not differ between the two species at 12 to 15 weeks postinfection, but in the earlier period the total number of eggs was significantly fewer in S. mekongi-infected than in S. japonicum-infected mice, suggesting the delayed maturation of the former compared with the latter. These results clearly show that S. japonicum and S. mekongi exhibit different oviposition behavior in their hosts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirinoki
authors.forename: Mizuho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chigusa
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Muth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinuon
authors.forename: Duong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Socheat
authors.forename: Viroj
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kitikoon
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010058:Oviposition; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000469:parasitology*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000469:parasitology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014781:Viscera / Q000469:parasitology