Hepatobiliary changes, antibody response, and alteration of liver enzymes in hamsters re-infected with Opisthorchis viverrini

Abstract

We investigated pathological changes, antibody response, and liver enzymes in hamsters re-infected with Opisthorchis viverrini. Group 1 received a single dose of 50 metacercariae; Groups 2 and 3 were first dosed with of 30 metacercariae and re-infected with 20 more once or twice at three month intervals. Inflammation and liver cell necrosis were observed on 3D (day 3) for Group 3 and 7D for Group 2 in comparison with 21D for Group 1. Pathological changes included peri-ductal fibrosis, bile duct dilation, and small bile duct formation. Increased O. viverrini-specific IgG levels ranked in the order Group 3>Group 2>Group 1. Liver enzyme activity was related to inflammatory cell infiltration. Re-infection induced faster inflammation and more severe pathological changes in association with parasite-specific antibody during chronic inflammation. This study emphasizes that there is an important relationship between the gradual decreases of inflammation with a concomitant increase in fibrosis after re-infection.