Recent studies have demontrasted that parasite antigens in the
surface membrane of adult Schistosoma worms become exposed after
praziquantel (PZQ) treatment. More recently, unexpected failure of
PZQ in treatment of schistosomiasis have been reported.
In the present study, indirect immunofluorescent antibody test
(IFAT) was used to evaluate the changes of the immune response after
treatment using PZQ to be compared with the pretreatment status. Here
we were trying to have an answer to the raised question of that
unexpected failure by throwing more light on the mechanism of action of
PZQ. The worms recovered after 1 hour post treatment exhibited either
extensive but random patches of bright fluorescence or uniform
fluorescence over the entire surface of the worm. After 24 hours posttreatment
the intensity of the fluorescence was lower than those of the
forementioned group with statistically insignificant difference. PZQ was
found, in the present study, to be a very effective schistosomecidal drug.
The unexpected failure of treatment might be due to either host, parasite
or environmental factors. |
