Schistosoma mekongi and Schistosoma japonicum : Differences in the distribution of eggs in the viscera of mice

• Published in: Parasitology international 2007-09, Vol.56 (3), p.239-241
• Main Authors: Hirose, Yoshinori, Matsumoto, Jun, Kirinoki, Masashi, Shimada, Mizuho, Chigusa, Yuichi, Nakamura, Satoshi, Sinuon, Muth, Socheat, Duong, Kitikoon, Viroj, Matsuda, Hajime
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Distal small intestine; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Host-Parasite Interactions; Infectious Disease; Intestines - parasitology; Liver - parasitology; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Oviposition; Ovum - physiology; Parasite Egg Count; Proximal small intestine; Schistosoma - classification; Schistosoma - growth & development; Schistosoma - physiology; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosoma japonicum - growth & development; Schistosoma japonicum - physiology; Schistosoma mekongi; Schistosomiasis - parasitology; Schistosomiasis japonica - parasitology; Species Specificity; Viscera - parasitology
• ISSN: 1383-5769; 1873-0329
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2007.03.004

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.