Schistosoma haematobium-induced glomerular disease: an experimental study in the golden hamster

Information regarding glomerular lesions related to Schistosoma haematobium infection in man or animal are extremely lacking and disputed. The objective of this experimental study was to investigate glomerular lesions in S. haematobium-infected golden hamsters. In this work, 53 hamsters were infected with S. haematobium cercariae and 18 animals of similar age and sex served as controls. Hamsters were infected either with 50, 200, 300, 400 or 600 cercariae and sacrified after 8, 9, 10, 14, 18, 24 or 32 weeks. Infected and control hamsters were subjected to laboratory examinations including serum creatinine, serum albumin, total protein, serum cholesterol, total urine protein as well as histopathologic evaluations. Kidney biopsies were examined by light microscopy, indirect immunofluorescence and by electron microscopy. Significant proteinuria, hypoalbuminaemia and hypercholesterolaemia were observed in all but 5 S. haematobium-infected, but in none of the control hamsters. Renal impairment was observed in 5 hamsters. Histopathologic evaluations showed IgG, circulating anodic antigen and circulating cathodic antigen deposits in the renal glomeruli. By electron-microscopic examination, these deposits were seen mainly in the subendothelial, mesangial and paramesangial areas. Amyloid deposits were also seen in the renal glomeruli, tubular basement membrane and in the interstitium. A correlation was found between the extent of amyloid deposition and the duration but not the intensity of schistosomal infection. We have concluded that S. haematobium infection can lead to glomerulopathy in golden hamsters.