Niclosamide in the treatment of tetagonimiasis

Anthelmintic effect of niclosamide [N-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-5-chloro-salicylamide)] on Metagonimus infection was carried out to the cases in area of Seomjin-river. The drug, one tablet contains 0.5 g of niclosamide was supplied from Bu-gwang pharmaceutical company in Seoul. Sixty five cases were divided into three groups by the regimen: Group l given 2 g(4 tablets) for one day, Group II for two successive days and Group III for three successive days. Stool examination was done before and 2-3 weeks after the drug administration by formalin-ether concentration and Stoll's dilution egg counting techniques. The results were as follows: Egg negative conversion (cured) and egg reduction (more than 80% decrease) rates were 28.6%, 10.7% in group I, and 31.8%, 27.3% in group II. But of those in group III treated for three successive days, 73.3% was cured and 26.7% showed egg reduction, and the general egg reduction rate was 95.1%. The results in the present trial suggested that the niclosamide has anthelmintic efficacy when it is used in 2g for more than three successive days.