Effects of ambilhar on the pregnant female rats and their neonates

The present work was undertaken to study the effect of ambilhar [antibilharzial drug] on the pregnant female rats and their necnates. Ten pregnant female rats were used in this work. They were divided into five experimental and five control animals. From the eighth till the fourteenth day of gestation, the experimental animals were given a daily oral dose of 6 mg Niridazole [ambilhar] dissolved in normal saline. All the rats were allowed to deliiver. The mothers and their neonates of both the experimental and the control groups were killed on the first day of delivery. The heart, liver, kidney and spleen were tajen for the histological and histochemical studied. Administration of ambilhar were followed by marked degenerative changes in the organs under investigation. Thansplacental passage was also proved in the present study as many histopathological changes were observed in the fetal organs. There were also a decrease in the activity of the alkaline phosphatase enzyme and the reaction of PAS. The significance of these findings was discussed

Ambilhar in the treatment of Schistosoma japonicum infection and as an egg suppressant for mass treatment.

Ambilhar or niridazole at a dose of 25 mg per kg body weight for 7 days was found ineffective against Sl japonicum infection. Longer period of treatment for 10 to 14 days gave impressive stool negative conversion and egg reduction rates but with moderately severe reactions, the most alarming of which was hallucination. To minimize toxicity, the daily dose was reduced but given for a longer duration so that the total amount of the drug given per kilogram body weight was approximately the same as the 25 mg pre kg per day for 10 to 14 days. Of the two treatment schedules tried, the 15 mg per kg per day for 24 days was found relatively effective. Although the drug with this treatment regimen was well tolerated, a drop-out of 50.8% was observed. Ambilhar was therefore tried as an egg suppressant. With a 10-day treatment, all patients were again positive after 6 months. Egg reduction rates during the 6 months stool follow-up ranged from 69.8 to 93.5%. Further trials using this dose to be repeated every 3 to 6 months is contemplated.

Drug trial of Schistosoma japonicum enfection in Indonesia.

A limited drug trial was carried out on 42 cases with schistosomiasis japonica from an endemic area of Central Sulawesi. The drugs used were niridazole and stibophen. The effects of treatment were reported and discussed. The results of this study offer promise for treating S. japonicum infection in Central Sulawesi on a larger scale.

Current chemotherapy of schistosomiasis japonica in the Philippines.

For the past several decades, the drug being used for the treatment of schistosomiasis in the Philippines has been Stibophen. It is administered intramuscularly at a dose of 1 ml per 10 kg body weight with a maximum of 5 ml every other day after 2 initial daily smaller sensitivity doses at a total dose of 45 to 70 ml fof adult patients. In recent years, a number of drugs for the treatment of schistosomiasis have been developed. These were evaluated clinically either in the hospital or in field trials in Leyte. Unfortunately, none of these were found to be suitable for mass treatment on account of toxicity to prolonged course of treatment. In view of the pressing need for a safe and effective schistosomicidal agent, the search for a better drug is imperative.