Pathogenic aspects of pyogenic liver abscess associated with experimental schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis mansoni infection that occurs concurrently with Staphylococ cus aureus bacteremia favors the formation of pyogenic liver abscess. The p resent experimental study in mice evaluated the following aspects of the re lationship between infection with Schistosoma mansoni and liver abscess cau sed by S. aureus: a) the role of the eggs of S. mansoni in the genesis of t he abscesses; b) the influence of different phases of schistosomiasis in th e development of liver abscesses; and c) the effect of the treatment of sch istosomiasis on the development of the abscesses. Macroscopic and histopath ological study showed multiple liver abscesses around granulomas of S. mans oni in the acute and chronic phases of schistosomiasis. Treatment of acute schistosomiasis before experimentally-induced bacteremia did not prevent th e formation of liver abscess. The study findings indicate that granulomas a round S. mansoni eggs and worms lodged in the liver provide a focus and sub strate for pyogenic abscesses caused by S. aureus.