Abstract

The possible effects of ablastin on Schistosoma mansoni were investigated by (1) establishing a concurrent infection of Trypanosoma musculi and Schistosoma mansoni in mice, and (2) by obtaining Trypanosoma lewisi immune rat serum (ablastin) and injecting it into S. mansoni infected mice. These procedures were followed on days 4, 14 and 28 of S. mansoni infection. For the groups that were given immune rat serum, controls were kept into which normal rat serum was injected.

Ablastin does not have any effect on the development or morphology of the S. mansoni worms as tested in this study. Although ablastin inhibits glycolytic pathway enzymes in young trypanosomes, it does not seem to affect those of the blood fluke. Effects of schistosome membrane function must also be ruled out as no reduction in worm burden and no morphological abnormalities were observed. Both immune and normal rat serum caused an increase in the number of worms recovered. This is most probably due to a serum sickness type reaction in the mice, caused by the foreign rat protein. This is supported by preliminary experiments which showed that mice given immune rat serum every third day died of anaphylactic shock on the twelfth day, a few minutes after the fifth injection was given.

Starting both T. musculi and S. mansoni infections at the same time as well as establishing a high titer of ablastin by introducing the T. musculi infection 8 to 10 days prior to the schistosome infection. would establish the effect of ablastin on the penetration of S. mansoni cercariae.

LLU Discipline

Microbiology

Department

Microbiology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Edward D. Wagner

Second Advisor

Raymond E. Ryckman

Third Advisor

Clifford E. Herrmann

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1976

Date (Title Page)

6-1976

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Microbiology; Schistosoma mansoni; Trypanosoma

Type

Thesis

Page Count

v; 38

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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