The influence of intestinal bilharziasis (Schistosoma mansoni) on serum thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) in rat

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 57 - 64
• Main Authors: Bleiberg-Daniel, F., Wade, S., Borel, E., Le Moullac, B., Gouache, P., Biou, D., Gauthier, F., Lemonnier, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 1988
• Subjects: acute-phase reactant proteins; inflammation; intestinal bilharziasis; nutritional markers; Thyroxine-binding prealbumin; acute-phase reactant proteins; nutritional markers; Thyroxine-binding prealbumin; inflammation; intestinal bilharziasis
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/S0271-5317(88)80087-3

The influence of Schistosoma mansoni infection on the circulating level of thyroxinebinding prealbumin (TBPA) was studied in 4-week-old male Wistar rats fed ad libitum a 18% protein diet. The infection was carried out by cutaneous penetration of 700 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Groups of 8 infected rats and their controls were sacrified 4, 6 and 12 weeks following the infection. Throughout the study, body weight and food intake of the infected rats were similar to those of their matched controls. Serum TBPA concentration decreased slightly but significantly (p<0.05) in the infected rats compared to their respective controls only from week 4 onwards. Antibilharzial antibodies were detected by day 15. The level reached maximal value by week 6. Histopathological examination of the liver showed granuloma formations by weeks 6 and 12. Despite this inflammatory reaction, bilharziasis did not induce any rise in the serum levels of orosomucoid and α 2-macroglobulin, two main acute-phase reactant proteins (APRP). As for serum TBPA, a slight decrease in albumin and transferrin also occurred. These results suggest that infection with schistosoma mansoni does neither induce malnutrition in rats nor produce an increase in their serum APRP. In these circumstances, serum TBPA level is not affected until occurence of severe liver damage.