Schistosoma mansoni miracidial fluid inhibits human lymphocyte functions

The hatching fluid from Schistosoma mansoni eggs collected from infected hamsters has been shown to inhibit the in vitro activation by mitogens of lymphocytes from healthy as well as infected hamsters. We have found that mitogen-induced activation of human cells was also inhibited by miracidial fluid (MF), as was specific stimulation induced by antigen or in the MLR. In addition, the cytotoxic activity of both K and NK cells was reduced in the presence of MF.