Acute Phase Response of Albumin and Haptoglobin in Experimental Infection of the Olive Baboon, Papio Anubis, with Schistosoma Mansoni

Abstract

Following infection of baboons with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae, a rapid four-fold increase in mean  serum haptoglobin concentrations was observed. These concentrations dropped to near pre-infection levels  following curative treatment of the infected animals with praziquantel. On challenge of the animals with a  second cercarial dose, haptoglobin concentrations demonstrated a more gradual increase that did not attain  the heights of the initial infection. Albumin concentrations displayed an inversely disproportionate relationship  to those of haptoglobin and decreases were much less pronounced. Whereas albumin was not a  sensitive indicator of schistosomiasis mansoni, haptoglobin proved to be useful in detecting the acute infection  and in determining prognosis of the disease in the olive baboon.