Schistosomiasis mansoni remains an important parasitic disease of man, endemic in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South America and the Caribbean. The aetiological agent is the trematode Schistosoma mansoni, whereas aquatic snails of the genus Biomphalaria act as intermediate hosts in the parasite life cycle. In Brazil, the distribution of Biomphalaria spp. is closely associ...

The water-rat Nectomys squamipes is mostly important non-human host in schistosomiasis mansoni transmission in Brazil, due to its susceptibility, high abundance and water-contact pattern. During experimental infection of N. squamipes with Schistosoma mansoni, adult worms show phenotypic plasticity. This finding led us to investigate whether biological behavior is also affected. This was assesse...

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement may occur in chronic schistosomiasis. It can be produced by any Schistosome species but happens most frequently in chronic Schistosoma japonicum infection. CNS involvement by S. mansoni is relatively rare but it may occur by embolization of eggs or ectopic migration of adult worms. A case of cerebral schistosomiasis caused by S. mansoni in a 40-year-old ...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-13 in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni (HSM), evaluating the role of these cytokines in the development of hepatic fibrosis. METHODS The study was prospective and analytical, developed at the Department of Surgery, Federal University of Pernambuco, Keizo Asami Laboratory of Immunology. We studied three groups: Group ...

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni in Maranhão State, Brazil, from 1997 to 2003, based on data from the regional health offices included in the Schistosomiasis Control Program. The statistical method was polynomial regression. The municipalities (counties) of Bacabal and São Luís showed a constantly downward trend throughout the time series. Colinas sh...

Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis refers to the major complication of chronic infection with Schistosoma mansoni, S japonicum and S mekongi, schistosomal portal hypertension. Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is usually, but not invariably, associated with enlargement of the liver and spleen, and reversible hepatosplenomegaly may occur in early infections not complicated by the development of portal hy...

Genital infection by Schistosoma mansoni is usually misdiagnosed in individuals who reside in, or travel to endemic areas. We describe two cases of genital tumor associated with S. mansoni infection manifested by methrorragy. Surgical specimens revealed leiomyomas in both cases associated with S. mansoni. In one of them, granulomas were found in the ovary and in the other they were found in the...

This study presents the characterization of an experimental immunotherapeutic approach for schistosomiasis utilizing antiidiotypic antibodies. Antiidiotype (31-3B6) was generated in rabbits using a protective murine monoclonal antibody 31-3B6 which recognizes a 68,000-D molecular mass glycoprotein present in extracts of Schistosomiasis mansoni adult worm homogenetics. Immunization of mice with ...

The case of a 21-year-old man coming from rural Paraíba, northwestern Brazil, with schistosomiasis mansoni associated with Serratia marcescens bacteremia, is reported. His main complaints on admission were fever, diaphoresis and chills for ten days, and diarrhoea that lasted for four days. On physical examination he had jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly. Diagnosis of S. marcescens bacteremia was ...

BACKGROUND Human schistosomiasis, mainly due to Schistosoma mansoni species, is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases worldwide. To overcome the drawbacks of classical parasitological and serological methods in detecting S. mansoni infections, especially in acute stage of the disease, development of cost-effective, simple and rapid molecular methods is still needed for the diagnosis of s...