Serum And Tissue Enzymes And Trace Elements In Hamsters With Schistosomiasis Mansoni And/Or Protein Energy Malnutrition

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is mostly widespread in communities suffering from protein energy malnutrition. The development of an animal model for each condition is required for better understanding of changes in certain biochemical indices in pure schistosomiasis or pure energy malnutrition or both. Measurements of some enzymes as well as trace elements have been found to be valuable as diagnostic and prognostic indicators for tissue destruction. Accordingly, the present investigation reports measurements of some enzymes and trace elements in the sera and tissues of hamsters suffering from protein energy malnutrition and/or schistosomiasis. These biochemical parameters are considered indices for the involvement of the liver and other organs in protein energy malnutrition and/or schistosomiasis. The results obtained are discussed in relation to those of the other investigators. The most important finding is the severity of the damage produced by protein energy malnutrition on the liver compared with that of schistosomiasis mansoni. Moreover it appears that in golden hamsters, Schisiosoma mansoni synergistically affects the liver damage produced by protein energy malnutrition