Reinfections and the development of schistosomal periportal fibrosis in the murine model

Abstract

Experimental pipestem fibrosis of the liver developed more frequently (69.2%) in mice submitted to repeated infections with Schistosoma mansoni, than with single infection (11.1%). The counting of eggs in the liver revealed no significant differences between the two experimental groups. Although the reason why multiple infections favor the development of pipestem fibrosis has not been elucidated, the data obtained represent an experimental support to clinico-epidemiological claims that repeated infections play a role in pathogenesis of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis

Periportal fibrosis; Schistosomiasis; Reinfections