Excretion patterns of Schistosoma mansoni antigens CCA and CAA by adult male and female worms, using a mouse model and ex vivo parasite cultures.

ABSTRACT: Assays which enable the detection of schistosome gut-associated circulating anodic (CAA) and cathodic (CCA) antigen in serum or urine are increasingly used as a diagnostic tool for schistosome infection. However, little is known about the production and clearance of these circulating antigens in relation to the sex and reproductive maturity of the parasite. Here we describe CAA and CCA excretion patterns by exploring a mouse model after exposure to 36 male-only, female-only and mixed (male/female) Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. We found that serum and urine CAA levels, analysed at 3 weeks intervals, peaked at 6 weeks post-infection. Worms recovered after perfusion at 14 weeks were cultured ex vivo. Male parasites excreted more circulating antigens than females, in the mouse model as well a

SUBMITTER: Casacuberta-Partal M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10097511 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature