Evaluation of Silver Tungstate (±-Ag2WO4) in the control of murine schistosomiasis

• Grant number: 23/09844-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Helminthology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda de Freitas Anibal
• Grantee: Mariana Carloni Anselmo
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/14570-8 - In vitro evaluation of silver tungstate and analogues against Schistosoma mansoni, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by the intravascular parasite S. mansoni and it's extremely relevant as it has been affecting poor communities in endemic areas for centuries. Praziquantel is the only drug recommended for treating this parasitosis, however, due to some cases of ineffectiveness, it is essential to study new drugs capable of fighting it. In this context, silver tungstate has been highlighted as a semiconductor material with biocidal potential. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the antiparasitic action of silver tungstate, in vivo, in mice infected with S. mansoni by evaluating the amount and viability of eggs in the feces of the animals (Kato-Katz method), the recovery of adult worms in the portal vein and intestinal mesentery, the leukocyte response in the blood and peritoneal cavity and the production of IgE antibodies, cytokines IL-10 and IFN-³; in addition to evaluating, through histological slides, the inflammatory process, granuloma formation and collagen deposition in the liver and intestine after treatment with silver tungstate of mice infected with S. mansoni. For this, Balb/c mice will be divided into four groups: G1 - negative control group, G2 - positive infected group, G3 - infected group and treated with Praziquantel and G4 - infected group and treated with silver tungstate. The treatments, both with Praziquantel and silver tungstate, will be initiated 45 days after infection (G3 will receive a single dose treatment and G4 will receive treatment for 10 consecutive days), and euthanasia will be performed on the 55th day to evaluate the proposed parameters. Thus, we will prospect whether silver tungstate has activity in controlling murine infection of mansonic schistosomiasis.