title: Preventive effect of artemether in rabbits infected with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of artemether (Art) for prevention of schistosomal infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rabbits with single infection or reinfection with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae were treated intramuscularly (i.m.) or intragastrically (i.g.) with Art 5 -20 mg.kg-1 on d 7-15 after the first infection, followed by various regimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When rabbits were injected i.m. Art 7.5 mg.kg-1 (i.e., one half of the effective dose given i.g. on d 7) followed by once every week for twice, the female worm reduction rate was only 42%. In infected rabbits treated i.g. with Art 10-20 mg.kg-1 given in the same administration schedule, the female worm reduction rates were > 91%. When Art 15 mg.kg-1 was given to rabbits on d 7-14 and the following dose of the drug was given at intervals of 7-14 d, the female worm reduction rates were > 94%. In rabbits reinfected with cercariae, the female reduction rate of Art given i.g. once a week for 3 times since d 8 after the first infection was 96% which was similar to that given once a week twice since d 14 after the first infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Art should be given i.g. on d 7-15 after infection, followed by repeated dosing once every 7-15 d for a total of 3 doses. Art given i.g. daily for 2 consecutive days or given at 1-wk intervals since 7-15 d after infection also showed preventive effect.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, China. tmrc@fudan.ac.cn
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000077549:Artemether; D037621:Artemisinins; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000187:drug effects*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D037621:Artemisinins; D012556:Schistosomicides; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000077549:Artemether