title: Single low-dose treatment with praziquantel for Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether praziquantel is effective against diphyllobothriasis nihonkaiense at doses less than the conventional dose.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen Japanese men with diphyllobopthriasis nihonkaiense were treated with a single administration of praziquantel at 5-10 mg/kg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients expelled a complete integrated Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense with its scolex. One patient expelled an integrated D. nihonkaiense without its scolex, and one patient expelled 2 complete integrated D. nihonkaiense with their scolex, and an integrated D. nihonkaiense without its scolex. The lack of eggs in stool samples was confirmed in these 2 patients after the end of therapy. All patients had not expelled proglottides after the end of therapy for more than 1 year. No side effects were identified in any of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All patients were considered to be cured. Our results indicate that the oral administration of a single dose of praziquantel at 5-10 mg/kg is effective and safe against D. nihonkaiense infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh General Hospital, 4-23-15 Kohtohbashi, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-8575.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004169:Diphyllobothriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004170:Diphyllobothrium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel