Morphological tegument alterations of adult Schistosoma mansoni, harbored in non anti-helminthic treated, high-immune-tolerogenic and low-inflammatory mice.

The present study exhibits original results of S. mansoni tegumental alterations due to contact with the immune system of non anti-helminthic treated mice. We compared, by SEM, the tegument of adult worms recovered from strains of mice genetically selected to extreme phenotypes of resistance (TR strain) and susceptibility (TS strain) to egg-albumin oral tolerance (OT). The parasites recovered from TR mice displayed no morphologic alteration, while specimens collected from TS mice presented tubercle swelling with blunted and shortened spines in lower density, increased sensory organelle numbers, fusion and tegumental ridge peeling. These tegument alterations were similar to those described for Artemether or Praziquantel treatment, supporting observations that the host immune system influences the development and function of the tegument of worms harbored in both anti-helminthic treated and non-treated mice. Our results are indicative that the development and function of the worm tegument depend on the immune regulatory capacity of each individual host.