Morphological aspects of Schistosoma mansoni adult worms isolated from nourished and undernourished mice: a comparative analysis by confocal laser scanning microscopy

Malnutrition hampers the course of schistosomiasis mansoni infection just a s normal growth of adult worms. A comparative morphometric study on adult s pecimens (male and female) recovered from undernourished (fed with a low pr otein diet - regional basic diet) and nourished (rodent commercial laborato ry food, NUVILAB) white mice was performed. Tomographic images and morphome tric analysis of the oral and ventral suckers, reproductive system and tegu ment were obtained by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy. Undernou rished male specimens presented smaller morphometric values (length and wid th) of the reproductive system (first, third and last testicular lobes) and thickness of the tegument than controls. Besides that, it was demonstrated that the dorsal surface of the male worms bears large tubercles unevenly d istributed, but kept grouped and flat. At the subtegumental region, vacuola ted areas were detected. It was concluded that the inadequate nutritional status of the vertebrate h ost has a negative influence mainly in the reproductive system and topograp hical somatic development of male adult Schistosoma mansoni, inducing some alterations on the structure of the parasite.