TABLE 3.
Effects of praziquantel and artemether combinations in animals experimentally infected with juvenile and adult stages of either S. japonicum or S. mansoni
| Group and treatment (reference) | Treatment (mg/kg)
|
No. of animals | Total worm burden (mean ± SD no. of worms) | Total worm burden reduction (%)c | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Praziquantel | Artemether | ||||
| S. japonicum-infected rabbits (87)a | |||||
| Control | 5 | 301 ± 29 | |||
| Praziquantel | 50 | 7 | 101 ± 45 | 66 | |
| Artemether | 15 | 7 | 168 ± 31 | 44 | |
| Praziquantel + artemether | 50 | 15 | 7 | 54 ± 29 | 82* |
| S. mansoni-infected hamsters (65)b | |||||
| Control | 5 | 36.0 ± 11.5 | |||
| Praziquantel | 75 | 5 | 35.2 ± 14.6 | 2 | |
| Artemether | 150 | 5 | 12.2 ± 5.2 | 66 | |
| Praziquantel + artemether | 75 | 150 | 5 | 8.8 ± 5.2 | 76** |
a
Rabbits infected with 7- and 14-day-old juvenile and 42-day-old adult S. japonicum worms (infection, 200 cercariae three times subcutaneously).
b
Hamsters infected with 14- and 21-day-old juvenile and 49-day-old adult S. mansoni worms (infection, 40 cercariae three times subcutaneously).
c
For the group receiving the combined treatment (praziquantel plus artemether) versus the group receiving praziquantel alone
*
P was <0.05 or
**
<0.01 by the t test.