This paper deals with current knowledge of the interrelationships between Schistosoma infection and malnutrition. It emphasizes the relevance of these investigations in the face of dynamic and evolving changes occurring in
population diets and changes in the epidemiological patterns of schistosomiasis in endemic countries. The paper
further discusses the basis for continuing the studies on this subject and the reasons why it represents a misunderstood association. This review also focuses on the cellular and humoral immune responses in the undernourished
mouse model infected with
Schistosoma mansoni
, with updated information on the immune response in wild-type
and iNOS knockout mice concerning soluble egg antigen specific antibodies and kinetics of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and
IL-13 cytokines, in the chronic phase of Manson’s schistosomiasis. There is indication that schistosome-infected
undernourished mice are able to develop a humoral immune response, but antibody titres are much lower than in
the control animals. Cytokine production (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10) is lower in the undernourished mice, but as infection
progresses to the chronic phase its kinetics run an antagonistic course when compared to that of well-nourished
animals. Marked variation in the secretion of IL-13 (a fibrogenic cytokine) could explain why undernourished mice
do not develop liver “pipe-stem” fibrosis described in previous papers on well-nourished animals.
