The miniature pig: a unique experimental model for Schistosoma japonicum infection

As part of a search for good animal models for human schistosomiasis, two miniature pigs of the CLAWN strain (C-1, C-2) were inoculated percutaneously with 200 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae of the Chinese strain, and the subsequent infection was monitored parasitologically, pathologically and serologically. Egg excretion into feces began at 5 weeks post-infection (p.i.) and became pronounced from 8 weeks to 17-20 weeks p.i. The average number of eggs in 1 g feces of each pig at the peak period between 8 and 20 weeks were 288 and 277, respectively. C-1 and C-2 were killed and perfused at 27 and 47 weeks p.i. and adult worm numbers recovered were 35 and 15, respectively. C-2 had at least four pairs of viable mature worms but no detectable fecal eggs for a month before perfusion, suggesting that any produced eggs were not excreted into the feces during this period. Egg deposits associated with inflammatory reactions were observed by histological examination of the liver, spleen, pancreas, mesenteric lymph nodes, lung, and small intestine. This suggests that reduced fecal excretion of eggs into the feces did not correlate to reduced parasite numbers in the chronic phase of schistosomiasis. This is the first report showing the miniature pig to be a potential model for human S. japonicum infection.