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A review of the Pathogenesis and Pathology of Bovine Schistosomosis


CD Bila
DA Silva
E Gruys

Abstract

Keywords: Schistosomosis, zoonosis, cattle, pathology, pathogenesis



Schistosomes are trematodes of separate sex living in blood vessels. They have part of their life cycle in a snail before becoming cercariae, and they reach the final host. Schistosomosis is a zoonosis. Several aspects of schistosomosis and Schistosoma species, their geographical distribution, life cycle, mode of infection, control and treatment are reviewed. The comparative pathogenesis and pathology of the disease in bovine, man and other species with regard to parasite species and organs of the host involved, are presented and discussed. The clinical features and pathological changes result more from the eggs than from the adult parasites themselves. The eggs release soluble antigen that is captured and presented by antigen presenting
cells (APCs). The APCs stimulate CD4 + T cells through costimulator molecules. The CD4 + T cells secrete cytokines leading to granulomatous reaction and fibrosis. These are major changes associated with clinical disorders. Around the eggs club-like eosinophilic protein deposits, the so-called Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon, can form.
Questions for further veterinary investigations are addressed.


Trop. Vet. Vol. 20(4) 2002: 181-196

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eISSN: 0794-4845