[Pigment deposit in liver of BALB/c mice infected by Schistosoma japonicum and its relation to the effect of praziquantel treatment].

Pigment is a kind of metabolite excreted by schistosome after erythrocyte ingestion. It deposited first in liver sinusoid, then outside and inside of granuloma, and around eggs. The level of pigment was in parallel with the degree of liver fibrosis (P < 0.01). After chemotherapy with praziquantel, the level of pigment decreased considerably (P < 0.01) and the size of granuloma shrinks obviously too (P < 0.01). Therefore, the degree of liver fibrosis in mice with schistosome infection and the effect of praziquantel can be recognized by the level and distribution of pigment.