Background: One of the considerable challenges of schistosomiasis chemotherapy is the inefficacy of
praziquantel (PZQ) at the initial phase of the infection.
Objective: The aim of this work is to evaluate the possible additive effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)
as a cholagogue with PZQ on experimental schistosomiasis mansoni.
Material and Methods: Thirty mice were divided into 5 groups, 6 mice each; GI: non-infected, negative
control; GII: infected nontreated, positive control; GIII: infected, treated with UDCA; GIV: infected, treated
with PZQ; and GV: infected, treated with UDCA and PZQ. Parasitological and histopathological examinations
were used as efficacy parameters.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference between GII and the infected treated groups
regarding the reduction of worm burden in the liver and mesenteric vessels, the presence of different
developmental stages of S. mansoni ova in the intestinal wall, the mean total count of ova in the tissues
of infected mice (P<0.001). At the same time, GV showed the best result by reducing the worm burden
by 100%, the least number of immature and mature ova in the intestinal wall, the highest percentage
of reduction of total ova count in the tissues of infected mice (90.09%), and the least mean granuloma
diameter and number.
Conclusion: UDCA has an auspicious additive effect to PZQ to decrease the worm burden, and the load of
ova in both the intestinal wall and other tissues, and to decrease the number and diameter of granulomas
due to infection with S. mansoni.