HISTOPATHOLOGY OF Holochilus brasiliensis(RODENTIA: CRICETIDAE)INFECTED WITH Schistosoma mansoni(SCHISTOSOMATIDA: SCHISTOSOMATIDAE)

Resumo

Schistosomiasis prevalence in swamplands of North-eastern Brazil is complicated by the presence of alternative hosts, such as the marsh rat Holochilus brasiliensis. However, the effects of Schistosoma mansoni on this host – at both individual and population levels - are unknown. We investigated the pathological effects of S. mansoni invasion in the liver and spleen of H. brasiliensis. Ten infected (5 males; 5 females) and 6 healthy (3 males; 3 females) animals had their liver and spleen extracted 42 days post-treatment. Histological slides were prepared and examined under light microscope. The livers of infected males were seen to contain parasite eggs with moderate or intense granulomas, whereas females showed slight or moderated tissue damage. Parasite eggs were also observed in the spleen of both male and female rodents. There appeared to be a different response to parasite invasion according to host sex.