Title:Imbalance of Steroid Hormones in Hamsters Infected with <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i>
VOLUME: 19 ISSUE: 8
Author(s):Katia C. Oliveira, Rita Cardoso, Antonio C. Dos Santos, Ruben Fernandes and Monica C. Botelho*
Affiliation:Disciplina de Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, INSA, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Health Promotion and Chronic Diseases, Porto, Disciplina de Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, ESS, Escola Superior de Saude, Instituto Politecnico do Porto, INSA, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Health Promotion and Chronic Diseases, Porto
Keywords:Steroid hormones, Schistosoma mansoni infection, host-parasite interaction, estradiol, testosterone, progesterone,
infertility.
Abstract:
Objective: Schistosomiasis is a debilitating disease that affects 200 million people worldwide.
Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni are the major causative agents of this disease.
Cancer-association and infertility-association in Schistosoma haematobium infection have already
been described and it is known that the parasite produces a catechol-estrogen molecule that induces
a hormonal imbalance in the host.
Methods: In order to better understand the relation of hormonal imbalance in experimental Schistosoma
mansoni infection, we investigated a serum panel of steroid hormones in Schistosoma mansoni
infected hamsters.
Results: We found a decrease in the serum levels of Estradiol (E2), Testosterone and Progesterone in
infected females and an increase of Testosterone and a decrease in Progesterone in infected males in
comparison with controls.
Conclusion: These results indicate that S. mansoni alters the levels of steroid hormones in infected
males and females and it will increase the repertoire of data about the host-parasite molecular interplay
and its relation with the endocrine system.