Functional correlation between histamine metabolism and worm expulsion in Trichinella spiralis

Mucosal mast cell activity was quantified by measuring histamine forming capacity (HFC) of the gastric mucosa and histamine content in the intestinal tissues of mice infected with T. spiralis. The results wee correlated with the kinetics of worm expulsion. It was found that T. spiralis resulted in significant elevation of HFC by the day 6 post infection (p.i.) which reached a maximal value at day 9, a time when approximately 50% of the established worm burden had been expelled. Histamine content of the intestinal tissues followed the same pattern. No intestinal worms were present by day 28 of infection and there was a gradual reduction in HFC and histamine content which had returned almost to control values by that time. Significant inverse correlation between individual worm burdens and HFC was detected.