STUDY ON THE POSSIBLE USE OF ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATED CERCARIAE OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI AS A VACCINE IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

Abstract

Schistosoma mansoni is one of the most dangerous problems in Egypt. Until now chemotherapy has been considered the most effective way to control the disease, but chemotherapy still has its limitations. The development of drug resistance and the occurrence of reinfection encouraged the researchers to find another means of control. Vaccination

has been

I e target for the last decade.

The present study was designed to • study the possibility of using ultraviolet irradiated cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni as a vaccine in experimental animals.

In order to fulfill this aim the following steps were performed:

1. ThJ life cycle of Schistosoma mansoni was carried out in the labbrato:ry to produce cercariae. 2. Thi produced cercariae were attenuated by ultraviolet irradiation 3. T+o hundred Swiss albino mice were used, they were classified

intoI

two groups: . I- Group 1 (control group): included 100 mice and remained as a contIro1 non- vacci• nated group. • . .