Praziquantel compared to niridazole in schistosomiasis intercalatum therapy

Praziquantel was compared to niridazole in schistosomiasis intercalatum in the Gabon. In a pilot study, 45 patients were randomly allocated to the two treatment groups. After treatment, 36 of these patients could be evaluated. Though the seven-day niridazole treatment showed significant reduction of egg excretion in all patients, cure rate was rather low. 9 out of 17 patients (53%) still excreted viable eggs of Schistosoma intercalatum. In contrast, patients treated with praziquantel in a one-day treatment (2 x 30 mg per kg) showed a persistent excretion of viable eggs in 3 out of 19 cases (16%). This difference was significant (p less than 0.025). Although the number of patients observed is rather small, results indicate that praziquantel is superior to niridazole in the treatment of schistosomiasis intercalatum both in view of application and side effects as well as curative potential.