Replacing oxamniquine by praziquantel against Schistosoma mansoni infection in a rural community from the sugar-cane zone of Northeast Brazil: an epidemiological follow-up

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2001:96 Suppl:165-7. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762001000900025.

Abstract

A group of 52 villagers was followed-up for three years regarding Schistosoma mansoni infection. All villagers were periodically surveyed by the Kato-Katz method. In March 1997 and March 1998 the positives were treated with oxamniquine (15-20 mg/kg), and in March 1999, with praziquantel (60 mg/kg). All infection indices decreased substantially between March 1999 and March 2000: prevalence of infection (from 32.7% to 21.2%), prevalence of moderate/heavy infection (from 7.7% to 1.9%), intensity of infection (from 23.1 epg to 7.4 epg) and reinfection (from 35.7% to 14.3%). Negativation increased from 53.8 to 82.4. An optimistic prognostic is assumed in the short term for the introduction of praziquantel in the study area.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Crops, Agricultural
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Oxamniquine / therapeutic use*
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use*
  • Prevalence
  • Prognosis
  • Recurrence
  • Rural Health
  • Schistosoma mansoni / isolation & purification
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / drug therapy*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / epidemiology
  • Schistosomicides / therapeutic use*
  • Seasons

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Schistosomicides
  • Oxamniquine
  • Praziquantel