The fatty acid composition of plasma and erythrocytes in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice.

The fatty acid status of mice six weeks after infection with Schistosoma mansoni was investigated and compared with the status of uninfected mice. Fatty acids of several plasma and erythrocyte lipid fractions were determined by capillary gas-chromatography. Major fatty acids including linoleic acid, arachidonic acid and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, were significantly reduced in the plasma phospholipids of infected mice. Arachidonic acid was also reduced in plasma cholesterolesters. The degree of the plasma arachidonic acid reduction in infected animals correlated neither with the worm load nor with the liver weight. The plasma fatty acid changes were not reflected in the lipids of the red blood cells. Since the observed changes in the plasma fatty acid composition occurred early after infection, they are unlikely to be a consequence of portal hypertension. It is speculated that an activation of the eicosanoid metabolism may contribute to these changes.