Zinc Metabolism in Schistosomes

Summary

When ⁶⁵ZnCl₂ was injected intraperitoneally into hamsters infected with Schistosoma mansoni the incorporation of ⁶⁵Zn into the parasite, including worms of both sexes and eggs, was much greater than the incorporation of ⁶⁵Zn into host tissue. Furthermore, the worm/blood ⁶⁵Zn concentration ratio increased throughout 21 days, being 10 and 20 after 1 day for female and male worms respectively, and 36 and 44 after 21 days. The determination of biological half-life of tracer doses of ⁶⁵Zn in hamsters heavily infected with S. mansoni and in hamsters not infected showed no significant differences in half-life between the two groups up to 50 days postinjection.