EFFECT OF COMBINED IMMUNOTHERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY ON SUSCEPTIBILITY TO S. MANSONI INFECTION IN MICE

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to improve the efficacy of PZQ by its combination with rGST26 as antischistosomal vaccine .Single and multiple intravenous injections ofrGST26 were given alone 7days before infection or combined with PZQ which was given 8weeks post infection .Four groups of infected controls were given bacterial lyzate in single and multiple administrations ,PZQ and the last one was left as infected untreated . All animal groups were sacrificed 10&12 weeks post infection and parasitological ,immunological and physiological studies have been perfonned . Multiple injections of rGST26 alone was shown to have an antifecundity potential ,decreased wonn count ,viability of eggs ,granuloma diameter and accelerated ova destruction. Treatment by PZQ alone induced incomplete eradication of wonns ,moderate reduction in granuloma diameter ,decreased number of ova /g tissue and nonnalized of the liver function .Notably ,injection of combined rGST26plus PZQ showed a multiplicity of benefits by acceleration of egg destruction ,increasing the anti GST inununoglobulin G,remarkable reduction of granuloma diameter and egg induced- pathology ,complete eradication of wonns ,maximum reduction in number of ova /g tissue and nonnalization of liver function .