A comparative parasitological, histopathological, and proteomic analysis of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice treated with ivermectin and praziquantel

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: El-Wakil E.S.; Tolba M.M.; El-Sayad M.H.; Khairy Hassen M.; Al-Rashidi H.S.; Almayouf M.A.; Al-Megrin W.A.I.; Alzaylaee H.; Moneer E.A.

Journal: Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Publication Date: 29 July 2025

Volume / Issue: Volume 12

Article No.: 1646155

ISSN: 22971769

DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1646155

Scopus: View on Scopus

Document Type: Article

Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access


Authors and Affiliations

El-Wakil E.S., Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Kornaish El-Nile, Giza, Egypt; Tolba M.M., Parasitology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; El-Sayad M.H., Parasitology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Khairy Hassen M., Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Technology, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt; Al-Rashidi H.S., Department of Biology, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia; Almayouf M.A., Department of Biology, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia; Al-Megrin W.A.I., Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Alzaylaee H., Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Moneer E.A., Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Technology, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt


Abstract

This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of ivermectin (IVM) with praziquantel (PZQ) in treating Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice through biological and proteomic analysis. Detecting protein structure changes in the worms after treatment could help pursue drug efficacy in schistosomiasis. Sixty Swiss albino mice were infected with S. mansoni cercariae and were divided into three major groups (Infected untreated control, praziquantel-treated, and ivermectin-treated). The evaluation of treatment was performed by parasitological, histopathological analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and proteomic analysis of the worms through lysis and protein extraction, SDS-PAGE, Mass Spectrometry, and data analysis. The treated groups significantly reduced mean worm load and ova count with smaller granulomas compared to the infected control group. In adult worms treated with PZQ and IVM, severe tegumental destruction, peeling, erosion, ulceration, and suckers damage were detected by SEM. The proteomic study identified 19 protein bands, 12 commonly shared proteins between all studied groups, and seven differential protein bands. Molecular and biological function administered from the NCBInr database revealed the presence of glycolytic proteins, structural proteins, and cytosol stress response. Although praziquantel outperformed ivermectin, the anti-schistosomal properties of ivermectin are encouraging, evidenced by changes in the protein structure of the worms detected after ivermectin treatment. This may open the way to use ivermectin in combination with other anti-schistosomal medicines to avoid any potential resistance from monotherapy. Besides, it highlights the role of proteomic analysis in differential protein identification that could help efficiently treat schistosomiasis. Copyright © 2025 El-Wakil, Tolba, El-Sayad, Khairy Hassen, Al-Rashidi, Almayouf, Al-Megrin, Alzaylaee and Moneer.


Keywords

ivermectin; praziquantel; proteomic analysis; scanning electron microscope; Schistosoma mansoni; adenosine triphosphatase (calcium); epiquantel; heat shock protein 40; mitogen activated protein kinase; structural protein; triosephosphate isomerase; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; Article; Biomphalaria alexandrina; comparative effectiveness; comparative study; controlled study; drug efficacy; female; histopathology; liver parenchyma; male; mass spectrometry; molecular weight; mouse; nonhuman; physiological stress; polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; protein analysis; protein structure; proteomics; scanning electron microscopy; schistosomiasis mansoni; worm burden


Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 3


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