HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ottolenghi, A. Articles by Weatherly, N. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ottolenghi, A. Articles by Weatherly, N. F.

Phospholipase B Levels in Fecal Pellets from Mice Infected with Trichinella spiralis, Hymenolepis nana, and Schistosoma mansoni^*

Fecal pellets of mice infected with Trichinella spiralis, Hymenolepis nana, and Schistosoma mansoni have been found to contain high levels of phospholipase B activity. The rise, time course and decline of the enzymatic content of the pellets correlate with the known patterns of intestinal injury and reaction due to the parasites or their eggs. Treatment with drugs (thiabendazole, niclosamide, niridazole) which are effective in suppressing the infection also prevents the rise, or causes an early decline, in the titers of phospholipase B appearing in the excreta. These findings complement the previous reports of a close correlation between accumulation of this enzyme in the intestine and infection of mice with T. spiralis and H. nana. Determination of fecal phospholipase B activity constitutes a relatively simple, quantitative, and blood-free method of following the course of infection and its response to treatment, which might be of particular advantage in long term studies and preliminary therapeutic screening.

Accepted for publication August 4, 1979.

^* This work was supported in part by grants PCM 7720156 and GB 29752X1 from the National Science Foundation, and Public Health Service Grant AI-11963 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.