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Malta KK, Palazzi C, Neves VH, Aguiar Y, Silva TP, Melo RCN. Schistosomiasis Mansoni-Recruited Eosinophils: An Overview in the Granuloma Context. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10102022. [PMID: 36296298 PMCID: PMC9607553 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10102022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Eosinophils are remarkably recruited during schistosomiasis mansoni, one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide. These cells actively migrate and accumulate at sites of granulomatous inflammation termed granulomas, the main pathological feature of this disease. Eosinophils colonize granulomas as a robust cell population and establish complex interactions with other immune cells and with the granuloma microenvironment. Eosinophils are the most abundant cells in granulomas induced by Schistosoma mansoni infection, but their functions during this disease remain unclear and even controversial. Here, we explore the current information on eosinophils as components of Schistosoma mansoni granulomas in both humans and natural and experimental models and their potential significance as central cells triggered by this infection.
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Amaral KB, Silva TP, Malta KK, Carmo LAS, Dias FF, Almeida MR, Andrade GFS, Martins JS, Pinho RR, Costa-Neto SF, Gentile R, Melo RCN. Natural Schistosoma mansoni Infection in the Wild Reservoir Nectomys squamipes Leads to Excessive Lipid Droplet Accumulation in Hepatocytes in the Absence of Liver Functional Impairment. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166979. [PMID: 27880808 PMCID: PMC5120838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease of a significant public health impact. The water rat Nectomys squamipes is one of the most important non-human hosts in the schistosomiasis mansoni transmission in Brazil, being considered a wild reservoir. Cellular mechanisms that contribute to the physiological adaptation of this rodent to the Schistosoma mansoni parasite are poorly understood. Here we identified, for the first time, that a hepatic steatosis, a condition characterized by excessive lipid accumulation with formation of lipid droplets (LDs) within hepatocytes, occurs in response to the natural S. mansoni infection of N. squamipes, captured in an endemic region. Significant increases of LD area in the hepatic tissue and LD numbers/hepatocyte, detected by quantitative histopathological and ultrastructural analyses, were paralleled by increased serum profile (total cholesterol and triglycerides) in infected compared to uninfected animals. Raman spectroscopy showed high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the liver of both groups. MALDI-TOFF mass spectroscopy revealed an amplified pool of omega-6 PUFA arachidonic acid in the liver of infected animals. Assessment of liver functional activity by the levels of hepatic transaminases (ALT and AST) did not detect any alteration during the natural infection. In summary, this work demonstrates that the natural infection of the wild reservoir N. squamipes with S. mansoni elicits hepatic steatosis in the absence of liver functional harm and that accumulation of lipids, markedly PUFAs, coexists with low occurrence of inflammatory granulomatous processes, suggesting that lipid stores may be acting as a protective mechanism for dealing with the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kátia B. Amaral
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, 36036–900
| | - Thiago P. Silva
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, 36036–900
| | - Kássia K. Malta
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, 36036–900
| | - Lívia A. S. Carmo
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, 36036–900
| | - Felipe F. Dias
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, 36036–900
| | - Mariana R. Almeida
- Laboratory of Plasmonic Nanostructures, Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure Group, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, 36036–900
| | - Gustavo F. S. Andrade
- Laboratory of Plasmonic Nanostructures, Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure Group, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, 36036–900
| | - Jefferson S. Martins
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, 36036–900
| | - Roberto R. Pinho
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, 36036–900
| | - Sócrates F. Costa-Neto
- Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Reservoir Mammals, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rosana Gentile
- Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Reservoir Mammals, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rossana C. N. Melo
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, 36036–900
- * E-mail:
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3
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Grimes JET, Croll D, Harrison WE, Utzinger J, Freeman MC, Templeton MR. The roles of water, sanitation and hygiene in reducing schistosomiasis: a review. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:156. [PMID: 25884172 PMCID: PMC4377019 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0766-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by infection with blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma. Transmission of, and exposure to, the parasite result from faecal or urinary contamination of freshwater containing intermediate host snails, and dermal contact with the same water. The World Health Assembly resolution 65.21 from May 2012 urges member states to eliminate schistosomiasis through preventive chemotherapy (i.e. periodic large-scale administration of the antischistosomal drug praziquantel to school-aged children and other high-risk groups), provision of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and snail control. However, control measures focus almost exclusively on preventive chemotherapy, while only few studies made an attempt to determine the impact of upgraded access to safe water, adequate sanitation and good hygiene on schistosome transmission. We recently completed a systematic review and meta-analysis pertaining to WASH and schistosomiasis and found that people with safe water and adequate sanitation have significantly lower odds of a Schistosoma infection. Importantly though, the transmission of schistosomiasis is deeply entrenched in social-ecological systems, and hence is governed by setting-specific cultural and environmental factors that determine human behaviour and snail populations. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature, which explores the transmission routes of schistosomes, particularly focussing on how these might be disrupted with WASH-related technologies and human behaviour. Additionally, future research directions in this area are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack E T Grimes
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - David Croll
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, , CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, P.O. Box, , CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Wendy E Harrison
- Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, , CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, P.O. Box, , CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Matthew C Freeman
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Michael R Templeton
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
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Costa-Silva M, Barros LDA, Garcia JS, Neves RH, Rodrigues-Silva R, Machado-Silva JR, Maldonado-Júnior A. Susceptibility of a Brazilian wild rodent isolate of Schistosoma mansoni to praziquantel in mice. Exp Parasitol 2012; 130:394-9. [PMID: 22343042 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2011] [Revised: 01/31/2012] [Accepted: 02/02/2012] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
The therapeutic effects of praziquantel (PZQ) against a Schistosoma mansoni isolate derived from Nectomys squamipes (isolate R) and a susceptible isolate (BH) were analyzed in Swiss mice by fecal egg counting, adult worm reduction and oogram pattern. Infected mice were orally administrated with 62.5mg/kg (group 1), 125mg/kg (group 2), 250mg/kg (group 3) and 500mg/kg (group 4), each dose divided over 3 days (49, 50 and 51 days after infection). The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). In regard to isolate R, no fecal eggs were observed with 250 mg/Kg and 500 mg/kg (p<0.05), whereas BH excretion reached zero with all doses. Mean worm burden reduction was significantly (p<0.05) higher at the two highest concentrations, regardless of isolate. At 62.5mg/kg, the percentage of immature eggs varied from 17% (isolate R) to 38% (isolate BH). At 125 mg/kg, the percentage of immature eggs varied from 20% (isolate R) to 16% (isolate BH). At 250 mg/kg, immature eggs dropped significantly to 1% (isolate R) and 4% (isolate BH). At 500 mg/kg, no immature eggs were found in isolate R, whereas in BH was 8%. No dosage significantly (p>0.05) affected the percentage of mature eggs, regardless of isolate. There was a large increase (p<0.001) in the percentages of dead eggs in all treated groups of 62% and 64% in groups 3 and 4, respectively (isolate R). The percentage of dead eggs rose from 34% (group 1) to 58% (group 3) in isolate BH. Although group 4 showed lowest increase in the percentage of dead eggs (46%), it was higher (p<0.001) compared to the 8% in the control. Our findings indicate that the wild isolate from N. squamipes is susceptible to PZQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Costa-Silva
- Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Mammal Reservoirs, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Martinez EM, Costa-Silva M, Neves RH, Oliveira RMFD, Machado-Silva JR. Biological implications of the phenotypic plasticity in the Schistosoma mansoni-Nectomys squamipes model. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2009; 50:229-32. [PMID: 18813763 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652008000400008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2008] [Accepted: 06/30/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
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 assessed comparing the biological characteristics of four S. mansoni strains: BE (State of Belém do Pará), CE (State of Pernambuco), CMO (State of Rio Grande do Norte) and SJ (State of São Paulo) using laboratory-bred N. squamipes. The infection was monitored by determination of the pre-patent period, fecal egg output, egg viability, intestinal egg count and, infectivity rate. No biological modification was observed in these parameters. Overall results highlight that N. squamipes was susceptible to several S. mansoni strains, suggesting that it might contribute to the maintenance of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Machado Martinez
- Laboratório de Helmintologia Romero Lascasas Porto, Disciplina de Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Uerj, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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Modena CM, dos Santos Lima W, Coelho PMZ. Wild and domesticated animals as reservoirs of Schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil. Acta Trop 2008; 108:242-4. [PMID: 18722335 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2008.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2007] [Revised: 07/10/2008] [Accepted: 07/16/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Natural infection with Schistosoma mansoni in wild vertebrates and domesticated animals in Brazil is described in this review from an epidemiological viewpoint. Some species of wild rodents are small-sized animals, with a short expectation of life, a limited territory, and present high infection rates under natural conditions. A successful maintenance of the parasite's life cycle under artificial conditions can be achieved with Biomphalaria glabrata. On the other hand, despite showing low natural infection rates, cattle are very susceptible to infection under experimental conditions (using calves of Holstein lineage, cross-bred with the Gir lineage). Due to their large size (just one calf may harbor a number of worms higher than a whole colony of aquatic rodents) and their longevity, cattle are a potential reservoir for the maintenance and dissemination of the disease. There is thus a need of new studies to gain a better understanding about the actual role of these animals in the epidemiology of S. mansoni.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celina Maria Modena
- Laboratory of Health Education, René Rachou Research Center/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Steinauer ML, Mwangi IN, Maina GM, Kinuthia JM, Mutuku MW, Agola EL, Mungai B, Mkoji GM, Loker ES. Interactions between natural populations of human and rodent schistosomes in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya: a molecular epidemiological approach. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2008; 2:e222. [PMID: 18414646 PMCID: PMC2291567 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2007] [Accepted: 03/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosoma mansoni exists in a complex environmental milieu that may select for significant evolutionary changes in this species. In Kenya, the sympatric distribution of S. mansoni with S. rodhaini potentially influences the epidemiology, ecology, and evolutionary biology of both species, because they infect the same species of snail and mammalian hosts and are capable of hybridization. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Over a 2-year period, using a molecular epidemiological approach, we examined spatial and temporal distributions, and the overlap of these schistosomes within snails, in natural settings in Kenya. Both species had spatially and temporally patchy distributions, although S. mansoni was eight times more common than S. rodhaini. Both species were overdispersed within snails, and most snails (85.2% for S. mansoni and 91.7% for S. rodhaini) only harbored one schistosome genotype. Over time, half of snails infected with multiple genotypes showed a replacement pattern in which an initially dominant genotype was less represented in later replicates. The other half showed a consistent pattern over time; however, the ratio of each genotype was skewed. Profiles of circadian emergence of cercariae revealed that S. rodhaini emerges throughout the 24-hour cycle, with peak emergence before sunrise and sometimes immediately after sunset, which differs from previous reports of a single nocturnal peak immediately after sunset. Peak emergence for S. mansoni cercariae occurred as light became most intense and overlapped temporally with S. rodhaini. Comparison of schistosome communities within snails against a null model indicated that the community was structured and that coinfections were more common than expected by chance. In mixed infections, cercarial emergence over 24 hours remained similar to single species infections, again with S. rodhaini and S. mansoni cercarial emergence profiles overlapping substantially. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The data from this study indicate a lack of obvious spatial or temporal isolating mechanisms to prevent hybridization, raising the intriguing question of how the two species retain their separate identities.
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Maldonado A, Gentile R, Fernandes-Moraes CC, D'Andrea PS, Lanfredi RM, Rey L. Helminth communities of Nectomys squamipes naturally infected by the exotic trematode Schistosoma mansoni in southeastern Brazil. J Helminthol 2007; 80:369-75. [PMID: 17125546 DOI: 10.1017/joh2006366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The water rat Nectomys squamipes is endemic in Brazil and found naturally infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Helminth communities, their prevalences, intensity of infection and abundance in N. squamipes in an endemic area of schistosomiasis in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were studied. Four species of nematodes (Physaloptera bispiculata, Syphacia venteli, Hassalstrongylus epsilon and Litomosoides chagasfilhoi) were recovered in 85.3%, two trematodes (Schistosoma mansoni and Echinostoma paraensei) in 38.8% and one cestode species (Raillietina sp.) in 1.7% of rats examined. Rats were infected with up to five helminth species each, and these were highly aggregated in distribution. For H. epsilon and S. venteli, intensities and abundances were higher in adult male and subadult female hosts, respectively. Hassaltrongylus epsilon, P. bispiculata, S. venteli and S. mansoni were classified as dominant species, L. chagasfilhoi and E. paraensei as co-dominant and Raillietina sp. as subordinated. No significant correlation was found in the intensity of infecton between each pair of helminth species. Schistosoma mansoni was not related to any other helminth species according to their infection rates, althougth S. mansoni was well established in the natural helminth comunity of the water rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Maldonado
- Laboratório de Biologia e Controle da Esquistossomose, Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Av Brasil 4365 Manguinhos, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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de Gruijter JM, Blotkamp J, Gasser RB, Amponsah S, Polderman AM. Morphological variability withinOesophagostomum bifurcumamong different primate species from Ghana. J Helminthol 2007; 80:357-61. [PMID: 17125544 DOI: 10.1017/joh2006363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAdultOesophagostomum bifurcum(Nematoda: Strongylida) from human and non-human primates from Ghana were compared in order to investigate the extent of morphological variability within the species. Using analysis of variance and principal component analysis, significant differences in morphological characters (such as parasite length, width, length of the oesophagus and length of spicules) were demonstrated betweenO. bifurcumworms from humans, the Mona, Patas or Green monkey and/or Olive baboons. These findings suggest thatO. bifurcumfrom different species of primate host represent distinct population variants, also supported by recent epidemiological and genetic studies ofO. bifurcumfrom such hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M de Gruijter
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, University of Leiden, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Morgan JAT, Dejong RJ, Adeoye GO, Ansa EDO, Barbosa CS, Brémond P, Cesari IM, Charbonnel N, Corrêa LR, Coulibaly G, D'Andrea PS, De Souza CP, Doenhoff MJ, File S, Idris MA, Incani RN, Jarne P, Karanja DMS, Kazibwe F, Kpikpi J, Lwambo NJS, Mabaye A, Magalhães LA, Makundi A, Moné H, Mouahid G, Muchemi GM, Mungai BN, Séne M, Southgate V, Tchuenté LAT, Théron A, Yousif F, Zanotti-Magalhães EM, Mkoji GM, Loker ES. Origin and diversification of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Mol Ecol 2005; 14:3889-902. [PMID: 16202103 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2005.02709.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni is the most widespread of the human-infecting schistosomes, present in 54 countries, predominantly in Africa, but also in Madagascar, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Neotropics. Adult-stage parasites that infect humans are also occasionally recovered from baboons, rodents, and other mammals. Larval stages of the parasite are dependent upon certain species of freshwater snails in the genus Biomphalaria, which largely determine the parasite's geographical range. How S. mansoni genetic diversity is distributed geographically and among isolates using different hosts has never been examined with DNA sequence data. Here we describe the global phylogeography of S. mansoni using more than 2500 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 143 parasites collected in 53 geographically widespread localities. Considerable within-species mtDNA diversity was found, with 85 unique haplotypes grouping into five distinct lineages. Geographical separation, and not host use, appears to be the most important factor in the diversification of the parasite. East African specimens showed a remarkable amount of variation, comprising three clades and basal members of a fourth, strongly suggesting an East African origin for the parasite 0.30-0.43 million years ago, a time frame that follows the arrival of its snail host. Less but still substantial variation was found in the rest of Africa. A recent colonization of the New World is supported by finding only seven closely related New World haplotypes which have West African affinities. All Brazilian isolates have nearly identical mtDNA haplotypes, suggesting a founder effect from the establishment and spread of the parasite in this large country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jess A T Morgan
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 USA
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Neves RH, Costa-Silva M, Martinez EM, Branquinho TB, de Oliveira RMF, Lenzi HL, Gomes DC, Machado-Silva JR. Phenotypic plasticity in adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni (Trematoda:Schistosomatidae) evidenced by brightfield and confocal laser scanning microscopies. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2004; 99:131-6. [PMID: 15250464 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762004000200003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A comparative morphometric study was performed to identify host-induced morphological alterations in Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. A wild parasite population was obtained from a naturally infected rodent (Nectomys squamipes) and then recovered from laboratory infected C3H/He mice. Furthermore, allopatric worm populations maintained for long-term under laboratory conditions in Swiss Webster mice were passed on to N. squamipes. Suckers and genital system (testicular lobes, uterine egg, and egg spine) were analyzed by a digital system for image analysis. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed details of the genital system (testicular lobes, vitelline glands, and ovary) and the tegument just below the ventral sucker. Significant morphological changes (p < 0.05) were detected in male worms in all experimental conditions, with no significant variability as assessed by CLSM. Significant changes (p < 0.05) were evident in females from the wild population related to their ovaries and vitelline glands, whereas allopatric females presented differences only in this last character. We conclude that S. mansoni worms present the phenotypic plasticity induced by modifications in the parasite's microenvironment, mainly during the first passage under laboratory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Heisler Neves
- Disciplina de Parasitologia, Departamento de Patologia e Laboratórios, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Prof. Manoel de Abreu 444, 5 andar, 20551-170 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasila
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