A chronic study of praziquantel in Syrian golden hamsters and Sprague-Dawley rats

Groups of Syrian golden hamsters and Sprague-Dawley rats received 100 mg or 250 mg praziquantel/kg body weight, intragastrically by oral gavage once weekly for 80 weeks and 104 weeks, respectively. In both hamsters and rats the observed differences in tumour incidence, latency and multiplicity revealed no positive dose response effect. Tumours observed corresponded in their origin and morphology to those which develop spontaneously in these species. Haematological and clinico-chemical values were normal. Whereas the average survival time was slightly shortened in rats, female hamsters showed reduced weight gains in the high dose level groups, although water intake and food consumption were increased.