title: Effect of single-dose oral mefloquine on the morphology of adult Schistosoma japonicum in mice.
abstract: It has been recently documented that the antimalarial drug mefloquine shows in vivo activity against schistosomes. In the present study, we assessed the effect of mefloquine on the morphology of adult Schistosoma japonicum worms. Mice were infected with S. japonicum cercariae for 35 days and then treated with a single 400-mg/kg oral dose of mefloquine. Groups of mice were killed between 24 h and 14 days post-treatment and worms were recovered from the liver and mesenteric veins, fixed in 70% alcohol, stained with acid carmine, and examined under a light microscope. Worms obtained from nontreated mice served as controls. S. japonicum recovered from mice 24 h post-treatment had severely dilated guts and the entire worm body was swollen. Meanwhile, reproductive glands, including the testis, ovary, and vitelline gland, showed signs of degeneration. Damage further progressed, particularly among vitelline glands, which resulted in disturbance of ova formation and cessation of oviposition 3 days post-treatment. Three to 7 days after mefloquine administration, adherence of host leukocytes on the damaged tegument was observed. Our results confirm that mefloquine possesses antischistosomal properties, exhibiting a rapid onset of action and causing extensive morphologic damage to adult S. japonicum.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China. shxiao4@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Shu-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chollet
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Utzinger
authors.forename: Jin-Yan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Pei-Yin
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keiser
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanner
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000188:drug therapy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015767:Mefloquine