الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the in vivo effect of artemisinin, arachidonic acid and nifedipine compared to praziquantel on S. mansoni regarding worm burden, liver histopathological, immunohistochemical alterations, effects of these drugs on tegumental changes using scanning electron microscopy on both juvenile and adult stages of S. mansoni in experimentally infected mice and also detection of cytokines changes, particularly, interferon gamma and interleukin-4 under the effect of these drugs.
This study was carried out on 120 laboratory bred female albino mice, six to eight weeks old and weighting 24 ± 2 gram. These mice are divided into nine groups (1-9 groups):
group 1: Uninfected and untreated mice (negative control group).
group 2: Infected untreated mice (positive control group), which were equally divided into two subgroups (2A and 2B).
group 3: Mice treated with artemisinin, which were equally divided into three subgroups (3A, 3B and 3C).
group 4: Mice treated with arachidonic acid, which were equally divided into three subgroups (4A, 4B and 4C).
group 5: Mice treated with nifedipine, which were equally divided into three subgroups (5A, 5B and 5C).
group 6: Mice treated with praziquantel, which were equally divided into three subgroups (6A, 6B and 6C).
group 7: Mice treated with artemisinin plus praziquantel, which were equally divided into three subgroups (7A, 7B and 7C).
group 8: Mice treated with arachidonic acid plus praziquantel, which were equally divided into three subgroups (8A, 8B and 8C).
group 9: Mice treated with nifedipine plus praziquantel, which were
equally divided into three subgroups (9A, 9B and 9C).
Subgroups 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A and 9A: were examined for the
juvenile stage of S. mansoni.
Subgroups 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B and 9B: were examined for the adult
stage of S. mansoni.
Subgroups 3C, 4C, 5C, 6C, 7C, 8C and 9C: were sacrificed two days
after treatment to be examined for the effect of drugs.
The criteria used were hepatic and portomesenteric vessels were perfused
to recover both juvenile and adult stages of S. mansoni for subsequent
counting, histopathological alterations in liver section were detected,
detection of CD4+T helper lymphocytes in liver section, scanning
electron microscopy examination to reveal the extent of damage to the
tegument of treated worms in comparison to untreated worms and Levels
of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were measured.
The present study revealed that:
1. Artemisinin plus praziquantel was the highest in total worm burden
reduction but arachidonic acid was the lowest in total worm burden
reduction.
2. Regarding schistosomula stage worm burden reduction, it revealed that
artemisinin plus praziquantel were the highest but praziquantel was the
lowest.
3. As regard to adult stage worm burden reduction, it revealed that
artemisinin plus praziquantel were the highest but arachidonic acid was
the lowest.
4. Artemisinin plus praziquantel were highly effective in granuloma
number reduction, but nifedipine was the least.
5. Regarding granuloma diameters reduction, it revealed that artemisinin
plus praziquantel were highly effective, but nifedipine was the least.
6. As regard to the result of histopathological findings, artemisinin plus
praziquantel showed the minimal histopathological findings but
praziquantel showed marked histopathological findings at 23 days
postinfection in the liver.
7. However, 44 days postinfection, artemisinin plus praziquantel showed
the minimal histopathological findings but arachidonic acid showed
marked histopathological findings in the liver.
8. Arachidonic acid was safer but nifedipine plus praziquantel were less
safe on the liver.
9. Regarding IL 4 levels at 23 days postinfection, artemisinin recorded
the highest IL 4 level but praziquantel recorded the lowest IL 4 level.
10. Regarding IL 4 levels at 44 days postinfection, artemisinin recorded
the highest IL 4 level but praziquantel recorded the lowest IL 4 level.
11. praziquantel recorded the highest IFN γ level but both arachidonic
acid and nifedipine equally recorded the lowest IFN γ level at 23 days
postinfection.
12. However, 44 days postinfection, nifedipine recorded the highest IFN
γ level but praziquantel recorded the lowest IFN γ level.
13. Artemisinin plus praziquantel recorded the highest CD4 cells
percentage at 44 days postinfection.
14. Regarding SEM on the schistosomula of S. mansoni, it revealed that
nifedipine plus praziquantel were the most effective but praziquantel was
the least effective.
15. However, SEM on the adult stage of S. mansoni revealed that
nifedipine plus praziquantel were the most effective but artemisinin was
the least effective.