Effects on the neutral lipid contents of the liver, ileum and serum during experimental schistosomiasis.

During infection of vertebrate hosts with Schistosoma mansoni,worm eggs trapped in host tissues induce granulomatous lesions that interfere with normal organ functions. Even though both the liver and the intestine are particularly susceptible to egg-induced tissue damage, little information is available on the pathobiochemical changes induced in these organs during infection. Using a mouse model, we investigated whether the lipid profiles of the liver and ileum were altered significantly as a result of infection. We found that triacylglycerol and cholesteryl ester levels decreased significantly as infection progressed.