Changes in serum lipids of mice experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni.

Serum samples of mice infected with 80 cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni for different time periods (2-20 weeks) were used in this study. It was observed that the concentrations of serum total cholesterol and triacylglycerol decreased significantly (P < 0.001, P < 0.0001 respectively) in infected as compared to control mice starting from the fourth week post infection. Similarly, the concentration of serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased significantly (P > 0.001) in infected as compared to control mice. However, the serum lipoproteins profile was variable at different stages of infection. On the other hand, the liver weight increased significantly (P < 0.0001) in infected as compared to control mice starting from the sixth week post infection. These changes might be attributed to several metabolites released by S. mansoni which affect the host hepatic tissue resulting in decreased synthesis of these parameters and their release into the circulation.