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Rate of Destruction of Schistosoma mansoni Eggs in the Tissues of Mice

The rate of destruction of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in tissues of mice was determined after treatment, with stibophen, of infected mice and after eggs were injected intravenously into infected and uninfected mice. Mice treated the 7th week of infection destroyed approximately half the eggs in the tissues the 1st month after treatment. Mice treated the 12th to 41st weeks of infection destroyed eggs more slowly. Preferential destruction of recently laid eggs, with slower digestion of eggs or shells that persist after the initial host attack may determine the difference in the rates of destruction. Thus the slower rate in mice with more prolonged infections may be related to the lesser proportion of recently laid eggs in the tissues. Variation in egg destruction may result from changes in the host reaction to the eggs rather than from the type of eggs at risk. Eggs injected intravenously are destroyed more rapidly in infected than in uninfected mice. These results are pertinent to the estimation of egg production by S. mansoni; calculation of egg production is partly based on the number of eggs found in the tissues, and no appropriate correction can be made for eggs destroyed during experiments.

Accepted for publication May 21, 1970.

^* Present address: Communicable Diseases, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Department of Health, 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.