Dihydroartemisinin-Praziquantel Combinations And Multiple Doses Of Dihydroartemisinin In The Treatment Of Schistosoma Japonicum In Experimentally Infected Mice

Currently, praziquantel is virtually the only drug used for the treatment of human schistosomiases (WHO, 2002). Although there is little direct evidence of the existence of praziquantel resistance in field isolates of schistosomes, decreased sensitivity to the drug has been reported in some Schistosoma species from several endemic areas (Tchuem- Tchuenté et al., 2001; Alonso et al., 2006; Melman et al., 2009). The screening and development of novel antischistosomal drugs, as alternatives to praziquantel, therefore need to be given high priority. One derivative ofartemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, shows activity against many parasites and, when administered orally to mammals, is rapidly absorbed, widely distributed and promptly excreted and metabolised (Tu, 2009). Single oral doses of dihydroartemisinin have recently been found effective against the 7-day-old schistosomula and 35-day-old adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum (Li et al., 2011). The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of multiple doses of dihydroartemisinin and of combined treatments with dihydroartemisinin and praziquantel against S. japonicum in experimentally infected mice, mainly to see if such treatments led to increased efficacy. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2011.