Effect of combined treatment with praziquantel and artemether on Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mansoni in experimentally infected animals

Acta Trop. 2001 Sep 1;80(1):9-18. doi: 10.1016/s0001-706x(01)00138-3.

Abstract

Praziquantel and artemether are safe and efficacious antischistosomal drugs that act against different developmental stages of the parasite: praziquantel against adult worms and artemether against schistosomula. A combined treatment has been suggested as a strategy for transmission control. Recent laboratory experiments with rabbits with a mixed infection of Schistosoma japonicum parasites of different ages confirmed the effectiveness of a combination therapy. In the present work, we assessed the effect of a combined treatment on adult worms of S. japonicum and found significantly higher worm reduction rates than with a single dose of praziquantel. In a next step, we extended the study of the combined treatment to Schistosoma mansoni. A combined treatment with 75 mg/kg praziquantel and 150 mg/kg artemether was administered to hamsters infected with juvenile and adult S. mansoni. The two drugs, administered simultaneously or spaced by 6 h, 1, 3 or 7 days, resulted in significantly higher worm reduction rates than a single treatment with praziquantel. A combination therapy with increased doses of 100 mg/kg praziquantel and 300 mg/kg artemether showed very high worm reduction rates of 90% and above, however, some hamsters died in five different combined treatment experiments, suggesting that these drug concentrations were too high. We conclude that a combined treatment with praziquantel and artemether at the lower doses is safe and more effective than praziquantel alone, which forms a foundation for designing respective clinical trials in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Artemether
  • Artemisinins*
  • Cricetinae
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Male
  • Praziquantel / administration & dosage
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use*
  • Rabbits
  • Schistosoma japonicum / drug effects*
  • Schistosoma mansoni / drug effects*
  • Schistosomiasis japonica / drug therapy*
  • Schistosomiasis japonica / parasitology
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / drug therapy*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / parasitology
  • Schistosomicides / administration & dosage
  • Schistosomicides / therapeutic use*
  • Sesquiterpenes / administration & dosage
  • Sesquiterpenes / therapeutic use*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Artemisinins
  • Schistosomicides
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Praziquantel
  • Artemether