Evaluation of the efficacy of pediatric suspension of praziquantel against schistosoma mansoni in experimental animals

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases with recent evidences about the high prevalence among preschool-age children. The pediatric formulation of Praziquantel [PZQ] has to be assessed for the efficacy as it gave controversial results in several countries

Objective[s]: The current study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the pediatric suspension of PZQ against Schistosoma mansoni Egyptian strain in the experimental animals

Methods: 150 Swiss albino mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni were divided into three groups, the first group was treated with 600 mg/kg body weight of PZQ pediatric suspension, the second group was treated with 600 mg/kg PZQ tablets and the third one received no treatment as a control. The efficacy of the pediatric formulation was experimentally evaluated in comparison with the tablet formulation as a benchmark on the basis of the following specific parasitological parameters [worm burden, tissue egg load, and oogram pattern i.e. percentage of dead, live or immature eggs shown in the stool sample]

Results: The comparison between the mean egg count per gram stool in the two groups pediatric suspension of PZQ [Epiquantel] and adult tablets of PZQ [Distocide], and the control group by applying one way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference [p<0.05] between the mean egg count in both treated groups [Epiquantel and Distocide] and their control group. The reduction of the total worm burden caused by Epiquantel[registered] was 96.9%, while that of Distocide[registered] was 86.7%, they were found to be statistically significant[p<0.05] in comparison with the control group. Epiquantel[registered] reduced the male worms by 100% and the females were reduced by 94.1%. Distocide showed a similar effect, it reduced the worms by 88.4% and 85.1% for males and females respectively. The administration of a single oral dose of both Epiquantel[registered] and Distocide[registered] resulted in a statistically significant reduction [p<0.05] in the mean egg count per gram tissue either the liver or the wall of small intestine when compared to their infected untreated control group. Complete absence of immature egg stages, high reduction in the mature eggs, and the increase in the dead eggs were observed in both Epiquantel[registered] and Distocide[registered] groups when compared to the control group

Conclusion: The results prescribed that the pediatric suspension formula of PZQ is as efficient as the tablet formula against Schistosoma mansoni [Egyptian CD strain] in the mouse model. It could be recommended for pediatric treatment

Assessment of antibilharzial and biochemical effects of triclabendazol in experimental schistomiasis

Schistomiasis is one of the major public health problems, and for more than two decades Praziquntel [PZQ] has remained the drug of choice for its treatment. However, studies proved that reliance on one drug raised the concern of development of tolerance or even resistance. The present work aimed at studying the effect of different schedules of the flukicidal drug triclabendazol [TCBZ], in a dose of 120mg/kg body weight, on Schistoma mansoni worm load, female fecundity and egg deposition in liver and intestine of infected mice, and at studying its biochemical toxic effects on some liver enzymes activities. The present findings indicated that the administration of TCBZ to mice infected with Egyptian S. mansoni strain was not effective except when the drug was given after the start of egg shedding in the stools. However, the anti-schistosomal effect was moderate as the results showed 50% reduction in worm burden and around 40% reduction in liver and intestinal egg loads. On the other hand, the impact on oogram pattern was not clear except regarding the percentage of dead ova which was much higher than the corresponding control. As regards the biochemical parameters studied, no change in the activity of all tested enzymes was observed. However, animals which received two doses of the drug after the start of egg shedding exhibited 24% reduction in alanine transaminase [ALT] activity. Our results indicated that, still, there is no alternative to prazquantel and there is an urgent need for discovery of new antischistosomal drugs. In addition studying different combinations and schedules of the already available drugs as artemether and TCBZ is recommended

Impact of national schistosomiasis control program in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Nile Delta, Egypt: an independent evaluation

A longitudinal study has been conducted [1991-1997] to evaluate the impact of repeated selective chemotherapy on human transmission indices of Schistosoma mansoni infection. The study population included 8370 individuals inhabiting four villages and their satellites and representing high and low S. mansoni endemicity communities in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. A parasitological survey was conducted for three successive years [1991-1992 and 1993]. Each time infected individuals received praziquantel [PZQ] chemotherapy. In 1997, a fourth parasitological survey was done. During the period from 1994-1996 only routine diagnosis and treatment of schistosomiasis offered by the Ministry of Health and Population [MOHP] was going on. Study results revealed a decrease in S. mansoni prevalence and intensity of infection in the first three years. The drop was marked after the first year. In 1997, after the cessation of active case finding and treatment by the project team, an upward trend was observed for both prevalence and geometric mean egg count [GMEC] especially for the high prevalence villages. However, all indices were kept at significant low levels as compared to base-line values in 1991

Effect of splenectomy and X-ray irradiation on the susceptibility to schistosoma mansoni infection in mice

The effect of splenectomy and exposure to x-ray irradiation on the susceptibility of mice to S.mansoni infection was studied. The criteria of the degree of susceptibility were; the prepatent period, number of eggs excreted in the stools per mouse per day, the worm recovery rate and the sex ratio of the collected S. mansoni worms. Both treatments led to an increase in the susceptibility of mice to S. mansoni infection as indicated by the increase in the worm recovery rate of the treated animals. However; both treatments had no effect neither on the length of the prepatent period nor on the sex ratio of the collected worms. On the other hand, the number of eggs excreted per day per mouse was found to increase in the splenectomized animals which was proportional to the increase in the worm burden. But a marked decrease in the egg counts was observed in the irradiated animals inspite of the increase of its worm load