System level metabolic effects of a Schistosoma japonicum infection in the Syrian hamster

A metabolic profiling strategy was used to investigate the metabolic responses of Syrian hamsters (SLAC) to a Schistosoma japonicum infection using high resolution ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and pattern recognition. In two independent experiments, male hamsters were each infected with 100 S. japonicum cercariae. At days 34-36 post-infection, urine was obtained from hamsters housed individually in metabolism cages. At the same time, urine was collected from age- and sex-matched infection-free control hamsters. The main biochemical effects of a S. japonicum infection in the hamster consisted of reduced levels of urinary tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, including citrate and succinate and increased levels of pyruvate. In addition, a range of microbial-related metabolites, such as hippurate, p-cresol glucuronide, phenylacetylglycine and trimethylamine were also associated with a S. japonicum infection. Most of the observed biochemical effects were in common with those previously characterized for a S. mansoni infection in a mouse host. The major distinguishing consequence of a S. japonicum infection in the hamster was the inhibition of manufacture or utilization of short-chain fatty acids, when compared to a S. mansoni infection in the mouse.