Schistosoma mansoni: the effect of dexamethasone on the cercaria-schistosomulum transformation, in vivo

Authors

  • Alan Laue de Melo Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Departamento de Parasitologia
  • Marco Victor Hermeto Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Departamento de Parasitologia
  • Rosilene Siray Bicalho Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Departamento de Parasitologia
  • Antônio Pedro Vargas Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Departamento de Parasitologia
  • Fábio Júnior Oliveira Favaretto Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Departamento de Parasitologia
  • Leógeues Horácio Pereira Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Departamento de Parasitologia

Keywords:

Schistosoma mansoni, Peritoneal cavity, Dexamethasone, Neutrophil, Cercaria, Schistosomulun

Abstract

Treatment with dexamethasone (DMS) in the early phases of the experimental Schistosoma mansoni infection causes an indirect effect on the cercaria-schistosomulum transformation process. This is observed when naive albino mice are treated with that drug (50 mg/Kg, subcutaneously) and infected intraperitonealy 01 hour later with about 500 S. mansoni cercariae (LE strain). An inhibition in the host cell adhesion to the larvae, with a simultaneous delay in the cercaria-schistosomulum transformation, is observed. This effect is probably due to a blockade of the neutrophil migration to the peritoneal cavity of mice, by an impairment of the release of chemotactic substances. Such delay probably favors the killing of S. mansoni larvae, still in the transformation process, by the vertebrate host defenses, as the complement system.

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Published

1994-02-01

Issue

Section

Therapeutic Trial

How to Cite

Melo, A. L. de, Hermeto, M. V., Bicalho, R. S., Vargas, A. P., Favaretto, F. J. O., & Pereira, L. H. (1994). Schistosoma mansoni: the effect of dexamethasone on the cercaria-schistosomulum transformation, in vivo . Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 36(1), 89-93. https://www.revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/29126