Cytogenetics of acute and chronic schistosomiasis mansoni.

Schistosomiasis mansoni patients with acute were examined for genetic damage using the conventional cytogenetic method to assess the frequency of chromosomal aberration (CA) in the cultured blood cells. A non-significant difference was noticed in the frequency of CA between patients (acute & chronic) and control (n = 15), but on treatment of blood cultures with bleomycin (a radiomimetic agent with a DNA alkylating effect), the percentage of induced breakage and fragmentation increased significantly 2 and 3 folds in acute and chronic patients respectively, indicating increased chromosomal fragility. The incidence of rearrangement in the form of translocation increased significantly as compared to control blood cultures treated with bleomycin. The study revealed the antimitotic of schistosomiasis from significant inhibition of mitotic index. Although schistosomiasis did not show a direct clastogenic effect, it can be considered as a comutagen when there is concomitant exposure, especially chronic ones, to radiomimetic agents, schistosomiasis may amplify their cytogenetic damage.