[Preliminary study on establishing an animal model of neuroschistosomiasis by direct injection of Schistosoma japonicum eggs through skull].

Objective: To establish an experimental model of neuroschistosomiasis and investigate the model establishment factors.

Methods: Rabbits were used for the animal model and Schistosoma japonicum eggs (1 mg/ml) were directly injected into the brain by two ways of a bone drill or needle. The symptoms were observed and in the first and second week and later, the rabbits' brains were removed for pathological examinations.

Results: One to two weeks after the injection of schistosome eggs, the rabbits had various neurological symptoms such as loss of appetite, hemiparesis, seizure, etc. The pathological analysis showed the schistosome egg granuloma inflammatory reaction among 90% rabbits.

Conclusion: This new method of direct injection of S. japonicum eggs through skull into the brain provides a good and easy animal model of neuroschistosomiasis.