Experimental Evaluation Of Schistosomiasis-malaria Co-infection In Mouse Model System

Mixed parasitic infections are common in many parts of the world. Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma mansoni are co-endemic parasitic infections with broad global distribution. However, little is known about how concurrent infections affect the immunity to and/or pathogenesis of each other. Thus, this study was undertaken to examine the parasitological, histopathological and hematological conditions that occur in Schistosoma mansoni-Plasmodium berghei co-infected mice. Mice infected with S. mansoni cercariae were divided into two groups, which were super-infected at weeks 4 and 7 post-infection with P. berghei. Giemsa stained blood specimens, hematoxyline and eosin stained liver and brain tissues were used for the analysis of parasitaemia, liver granuloma and cerebral sequestration of malaria parasites, respectively. In addition to these, hemoglobin level, percentage weight loss, eggs per gram of liver and survivability of P. berghei infected mice were used as parameters for the comparison of co-infected and mono-infected groups. Sampling of hemoglobin and weight measurements were done at days 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 post-P. berghei infection. Sampling of blood for malaria parasitaemia was done at days 5, 7, 9 and 11 post-P. berghei infection. Independent t-test analysis of the results showed that co-infection of mice with P. berghei, 7 weeks post-S. mansoni infection resulted in significant (P

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