Scanning electron microscopy on adults of Schistosoma mansoni treated in-vivo with praziquantel and RO-15 (5458).

Abstract

In view of the known relationship between changes in the tegumental surface of schistosomes and the potency of antischistosomal drugs, the present work is done to study the effect of two oral drugs, namely Praziquantel and Ro-15 (5458), on the tegument of Schistosoma mansoni by scanning electron microscopy. The damage produced in the tegument of both male and female worms after treatment with the curative and subcurative doses of Praziquantel and Ro-15 (5458) are described. A pronounced deformation of the whole worms was detected after the treatment with a combined reduced dose of the two oral antibilharzial drugs. The potency of the new compound Ro-15 (5458) is encouraging and deserves further studies to be recommended as an antischistosomal drug, particularly in those cases which may show evidence of drug resistance to Praziquantel.