Role of Schistosoma mansoni bilharziasis in male hypogonadism

: In tropical and subtropical areas, schistosomiasis may cause anatomic anomalies of the genital organs responsible for permanent or reversible infertility. Furthermore, it has been suggested that this parasitic infection may have adverse consequences on the endocrine system. To specify the effects of schistosomiasis on endocrine function, production of pituitary gonadotropins and testosterone in rats and hamsters experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni was studied. Prior to infection, hormone levels were within the normal range for our laboratory in all animals studied. Hormone levels (FSH, LH and testosterone) fell significantly in all experimentally infected animals, as compared with uninfected controls. These data suggest that the inhibitory effect (documented by the fall in all the hormone parameters studied) of Schistosoma mansoni on gonadal function is due to an action at the hypothalamic or pituitary level. The potential role of parasite ecdysteroids in the mechanism of action of schistosomes deserves to be studied.