Experimental Schistosome Dermatitis in Rabbits

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Abstract
Rabbits were sensitized to the avian schistosomes, Trichobilharzia ocellata and T. stagnicolae by repeated skin exposures to living cercariae. The course of sensitization and the resulting dermatitis in rabbits are comparable with sensitization and dermatitis in man. Rabbits sensitized to cercariae of T. ocellata and T. stagnicolae were exposed to these same spp. and serial skin biopsies were taken from the exposed areas. Suitable control rabbits were also exposed and biopsied according to the same schedule. Sections of the biopsies revealed that the 2 species of cercariae penetrated the epidermis and corium of both sensitized and unsensitized rabbits. In the unsensitized rabbits there was no cellular response to the worms and all worms found appeared to be alive after 48 hours in the skin. In sensitized rabbits there was visible cellular response to the worms 6 hrs. after penetration and intense cellular reactions developed in 12 to 24 hrs. Many of the worms in the skin of the sensitized rabbits were dead in biopsies made more than 6 hours after penetration. As a result of sensitization, the rabbits are apparently able to immobilize and destroy bird schistosome cercariae in the skin.

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