title: Schistosoma mansoni: effect of dietary zinc supplement on egg granuloma in Swiss mice treated with praziqantel.
abstract: Schistosomiasis is one of the most important parasitic diseases in Egypt and chemotherapy is considered the most effective method of control. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of zinc administration against Schistosoma mansoni infection by evaluating the activities of arylesterase and paraoxonase (PON1) enzymes, and the degree of liver damage. One hundred and twenty albino mice were divided into two groups; one was an infected control and the other a treated group which was further subdivided into three according to the praziquantel and zinc supplementation given. Blood and liver samples, collected 10 weeks post-infection, were subjected to parasitological, histopathological, and enzyme assays, and immunological studies. The results showed that dietary zinc supplementation led to marked reduction in worm load, and egg deposition in the liver and intestine. Histopathological examination showed marked reduction in the number and diameter of hepatic granulomas in the treated groups. The activity of arylesterase and PON1 enzymes were partially restored in infected animals receiving zinc. IL-10 mRNA expression was higher in the treated groups than in the infection control group. In conclusion, zinc administration could be a promising adjuvant therapy for S. mansoni infection.
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, Medical College, Misr University for Science & Technology, Al-Motamayez District, P.O. Box 77, 6th of October City, Cairo 16111-16878, Egypt.
authors.forename: Moshira M F
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Helmy
authors.forename: Soheir S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: Zeinab H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Fahmy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006099:Granuloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016753:Interleukin-10; D011223:Praziquantel; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C019734:arylesterase; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase