MORPHOLOGICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE EFFECT OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. ON JUVENILE AND ADULT SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI IN VIVO
Mona M. Khater1, Amira Z. Dakroury2
1Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
2Physics Department, Faculty of Girls for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Although Schistosomaisis has long been treated with praziquantel, but there is a global interest to find a safe, efficient alternative. This study aims to investigate the anti-schistosomal effect of Artemisia annua L. on juvenile and adult Schistosoma mansoni worms in experimental mice. Mice were allocated into 3 main groups after being infected with S. mansoni cercariae. Artemisia annua L. infusion (800 mg/kg) was administrated intragastrically on 21 and 49 days after infection. After three days post-treatment, the worms were recovered, processed, counted and examined using light microscopy (after staining by acid carmine) and scanning electron microscope. The results of juvenile worm group showed reduction in total worm burden and the recovered schistosomules showed tegument alterations in the form of swelling, vesiculation and distortion of the oral sucker and acetabulum. In adult male and female worms, focal damage of tegumental tubercles and fused ridges were reported in the form of bleb formation, peeling and erosion in many areas of the tegument and suckers with statistically significant reduction in average worms measurements. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that Artemisia annua L. possesses antischistosomal properties; by reducing the worm burden, affecting growth and causing tegumental damage to juvenile and adult S. mansoni; thus opens new insights on herbal control of schistosomiasis.
June 2015