Experimental schistosomiasis mansoni: electrophoretic studies on serum proteins before and after administration of oxamniquine.

By means of electrophoresis quantitative estimation of serum protein components were made at various intervals before and after treatment with oxamniquine. During infection of mice with S. mansoni serum protein fractions showed marked alterations. Significant increase of total protein, alpha-2 globulin and beta globulin started at week 4 and alpha-1 globulin and gamma globulin at week 6. The significant decrease of globulins at week 6 resulted in reduced albumin globulin ratios. Some of these changes developed during maturation of worms and became more evident with initiation of egg deposition. The possible cause of these variations and their significance were discussed. Oxamniquine treatment of infected mice inhibited such alterations. Administration of the drug to normal mice was followed by temporary increase of serum albumin.