Background The large-scale use of praziquantel might result in selection of drug-resistant parasites. Hence, there is an important need to develop new antischistosomal compounds. Objective This study aimed for assessment of antischistosomal properties of an antimalarial drug, mefl oquine (MFQ), on juvenile and adult Schistosoma haematobium worms. Materials and methods Infected hamsters were divided into two main groups, I and II, each subdivided into (a) and (b) subgroups. Groups Ia and IIa received 200 mg/kg MFQ as single oral dose, 49 and 82 days postinfection, respectively. Groups Ib and IIb served as untreated controls, respectively. Ten days later, animals were killed. Parasitological assessment (worm burden, tissue egg load, and oogram pattern), histopathological examination, and scanning electron microscopy were performed to evaluate MFQ effi cacy. Results MFQ treatment of the juvenile group Ia resulted in considerable worm burden reductions of 75.9, 69.6, and 88.6% for male, female, and coupled worms, respectively. In the treated adult group IIa, the corresponding results were 24.8 and 95% for male and coupled worms, respectively. Separate female worms were detected only in the treated groups. In group IIa treated animals, MFQ also had an observed but statistically insignifi cant effect on tissue egg load and oogram pattern. Schistosomal granuloma area, diameters, and numbers were insignifi cantly decreased. Tegumental changes of treated worms in the form of shrunken deformed tegument, loss or fl attening of tubercles, furrows, and blebbing were observed. Conclusion Results concluded by this study elucidate promising MFQ antischistosomal effi cacy on both juvenile and adult stages of S. haematobium with more evident effect on juvenile forms, which enforces the potential use of MFQ as an effective antischistosomal drug.
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