AN EVALUATION OF THE MARMOSET CALLITHRIX-JACCHUS (SAGUI) AS AN EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL FOR THE DYSLIPOPROTEINEMIA OF HUMAN SCHISTOSOMIASIS-MANSONI

Human infection with the parasite Schistosoma mansoni is a relatively common occurrence in regions of South America and is associated with l iver dysfunction and dyslipoproteinemia. Specifically, the activity of plasma lecithin :cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity is reduc ed, the concentration of plasma cholesterol esters falls, phospholipid concentrations are elevated and erythrocyte membranes become choleste rol enriched. Previous studies have utilized rodents (rats and mice) a s experimental models to study the dyslipoproteinemia induced by S. ma nsoni infection. However, the plasma lipoprotein profiles in these ani mals is very different from humans and infection is not accompanied by decreases in LCAT activity or cholesterol enrichment of their erythro cyte membranes, Here we have evaluated the suitability of the marmoset Callithrix jacchus (sagui) which is small and readily available in Br azil, as a potential animal model for the study of the dyslipoproteine mia of S, mansoni infections. The plasma lipoprotein compositions and distributions in sagui, unlike rats or mice, approximate those of man with the LDL representing a major lipoprotein species. The molecular s pecies of phospholipids, cholesterol esters and triglycerides present in sagui plasma are also very similar to man, whereas those of rats an d mice favor the longer chain more unsaturated species. Sagui, like ro dents, can be successfully infected with S. mansoni and after 60 days, this results in a 50% reduction in plasma LCAT activity, an 11% reduc tion in plasma cholesterol esters, an absolute increase of 46% in plas ma phospholipids and an 18% increase in the cholesterol content of ery throcyte membranes. These changes are qualitatively and quantitatively very similar to those previously reported following human infections. Based upon these changes, and the observation that the plasma lipopro tein profile of sagui and human is similar, we conclude that C. jacchu s (sagui) is an appropriate animal model for the study of dyslipoprote inemia associated with S. mansoni infections. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e B,V. All rights reserved.