The pathology, pathobiology and pathogenesis of schistosomiasis

Abstract

Although the general pathology of [human] schistosomiasis [Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium and S. japonicum] has been well understood for more than 70 yr, it is only recently that it has been possible to analyze the disease at the molecular level and to understand the relationship between the number of parasites in an infected individual and the appearance of overt disease. The essential role of the host granulomatous inflammatory response to eggs is discussed. The immunological reaction is of the delayed hypersensitivity type and the disease syndrome is now recognized as being essentially immunological. The major antigen from the eggs has been isolated, purified and characterized.