Evaluation of the Efficacy of Pediatric Suspension of Praziquantel against Schistosoma mansoni in Experimental Animals

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases with recent evidences about the high prevalence among preschool-age children. The pediatric formulation of Praziquantel (PZQ) has to be assessed for the efficacy as it gave controversial results in several countries. Objective(s): The current study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the pediatric suspension of PZQ against Schistosoma mansoni Egyptian strain in the experimental animals. Methods: 150 Swiss albino mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni were divided into three groups, the first group was treated with 600 mg/kg body weight of PZQ pediatric suspension, the second group was treated with 600 mg/kg PZQ tablets and the third one received no treatment as a control. The efficacy of the pediatric formulation was experimentally evaluated in comparison with the tablet formulation as a benchmark on the basis of the following specific parasitological parameters (worm burden, tissue egg load, and oogram pattern i.e. percentage of dead, live or immature eggs shown in the stool sample). Results: The comparison between the mean egg count per gram stool in the two groups pediatric suspension of PZQ (Epiquantel) and adult tablets of PZQ (Distocide), and the control group by applying one way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the mean egg count in both treated groups (Epiquantel&Distocide) and their control group. The reduction of the total worm burden caused by Epiquantel®was96.9%, while that of Distocide®was86.7%, they were found to be statistically significant(p<0.05) in comparison with the control group. Epiquantel® reduced the male worms by 100% and the females were reduced by 94.1%. Distocide showed a similar effect, it reduced the worms by 88.4% and 85.1% for males and females respectively. The administration of a single oral dose of both Epiquantel® and Distocide® resulted in a statistically significant reduction (p<0.05) in the mean egg count per gram tissue either the liver or the wall of small intestine when compared to their infected untreated control group. Complete absence of immature egg stages, high reduction in the mature eggs, and the increase in the dead eggs were observed in both Epiquantel® and Distocide® groups when compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results prescribed that the pediatric suspension formula of PZQ is as efficient as the tablet formula against Schistosoma mansoni (Egyptian CD strain) in the mouse model. It could be recommended for pediatric treatment.