microscopya b s t r a c tThere is an important need to develop alternative anti-schistosomal drugs, as current treat-ment depends mainly on praziquantel (PZQ). This work aimed to study the in vivo effectof mefloquine on worm burden and tegumental changes on both the juvenile and adultworms in experimental Schistosoma mansoni infection.We studied the effect of this compound in mice infected with cercaria of Schistosomamanson then treated with a single oral dose of 400 mg/kg mefloquine, 3 and 7 weeks afterinfection and worms were recovered two, three and seven days following treatment. Wormburden was calculated and alterations on the tegumental surface of schistosomula wereexamined by electron microscopy. The total worm burden reduction in juvenile was 94.5%and in adults was 74.8%. The electron microscopy examination showed tegumental changesin the form of retracted ventral sucker and oral sucker, fusion of tegumental ridges, pittingof the tegument and corrugations with swelling of the tegument in parts and shrinkagein the other parts with formation of deep furrows, disruption and peeling of the tegu-ment with loss of spines and blebbing. Mefloquine has a promising effect in treatment ofschistosomiasis. |
