Chemotherapeutic Effect of Niridazole (Ambilhar-Biomedean Belgium) on Schistosoma Mansoni Infection in Mice.

Abstract

The chemotherapeutic effect of niridazole on Schistosoma mansoni in mice was evaluated at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks post cercarial exposure. The schistosomicidal effect of niridazole increased with increasing doses of the drug at 2 weeks and also at 8 weeks post cercarial exposure (p<0.05). Worm fecundity was more affected when the drug was given to the 2 weeks old worms than the 4 weeks and the 8 week-old worms although, oogram patterns of the 8 week-old worms revealed that the eggs in the tissues were killed in that about 89.41 % dead eggs were found and there was absence of 2nd and 3rd stage eggs in the intestinal segments. A dose of 5.0mg/ml given orally daily for 5 days can effectively control S. mansoni infection in the 2 weeks and 8 weeks old. infections.