The synergistic impact of ethanol consumption and Schistosoma mansoni infection on renal histopathology in mice

The impact of ethanol ingestion combined with acute Schistosoma mansoni infection on renal architecture remains unclear. This study evaluated renal histopathology in mice exposed to both conditions. Male Swiss Webster mice were first infected with S. mansoni and subsequently subjected to a period of ethanol or water gavage. After this exposure period, animals were allocated into four experimental groups: C (control), UE (uninfected + ethanol), I (infected), and IE (infected + ethanol). The infected groups were subcutaneously inoculated with 80 cercariae of S. mansoni (BH strain). Starting on day 35 post-infection, animals in the ethanol groups received a daily dose of 18 % ethanol by gavage (200 μL) for 28 days. On day 64, the mice were euthanized, and their kidneys were... collected for histological analysis. Histopathological examination revealed that the UE group showed protein denaturation, narrowed tubular lumen, microvilli loss in proximal tubules, and leukocyte infiltration. The I group showed tubular necrosis and leukocyte infiltration in distal tubules. The IE group presented protein denaturation, leukocyte infiltration, mesangial cell proliferation, and glomerular retraction. Medullary edema and leukocyte infiltration were observed in groups UE, I, and IE. Morphometric analysis showed increased glomerular area in groups UE (+47 %), I (+71 %), and IE (+54 %) compared to C. The glomerular tuft area was larger in UE (+42 %), I (+82 %), and IE (+72 %). Bowman's space increased in UE (+58 %), I (+51 %), and IE (+68 %). Glomerular tuft diameter rose in UE (+21 %), I (+39 %), and IE (+42 %), with IE showing a 17 % increase compared to UE. Collagen deposition in renal parenchyma increased markedly in UE (+381 %) and IE (+389 %) versus C. The volume density of proximal tubules decreased 22 % in I and IE. The distal tubule density dropped in UE (-62 %), I (-58 %), and IE (-79 %). Leukocyte infiltration increased in UE (+14 %), I (+13 %), and IE (+16 %). These findings demonstrate that ethanol exacerbates renal damage in schistosomiasis, intensifying inflammation, and structural impairment.