The histopathology of the Liver in Mice Experimentally Infected with Schistosomatium Douthitti

The pathology of the liver in 78 mice experimentally infected with a light infection of Schistosomatium douthitti was studied. Mice infected with worms of one sex and with worms of both sexes were necropsied at approximately monthly intervals for a period of 15 to 840 days after infection. Mice infected for approximately 60 days were challenged and the liver studied for signs of an enhanced cellular response. Mice cured by chemotherapy were also studied. In the series with mice infected with male and female worms, lesions were associated with ova and the formation of granulomata. In the series infected with female worms, in which ova were also present, the inflammatory response was essentially similar. In the series infected with male worms, the inflammatory response was predominately of mononuclear cells localized about veins. Mice challenged 60 days after infection showed no enhanced cellular response to the challenging infection. Mice cured of their infection showed a return to normal histology of the liver in approximately 270 days.