Antioxidant abilities of rat serum in acute phase of fasciolosis

Wistar rats were infected with a dose of 30 metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica. Serum activity of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase) and concentration of glutathione, vitamins C, A, and E were determined at 4 weeks post infection (wpi). Lipid peroxidation was assayed by HPLC, measuring the level of malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal. In the serum of infected rats the activity of SOD decreased, activity of GSSG-R increased, while that of GSH-Px did not change. The concentration of all non-enzymatic antioxidants decreased while the level of lipid peroxidation products significantly increased. These changes indicate the shift in redox balance in oxidative reactions in the acute fasciolosis of rats.