Miltefosine, a promising novel agent for schistosomiasis mansoni.
This research aims towards developing an alternative antischistosomal drug using miltefosine, which is primarily used in the treatment of leishmaniasis. The treatment and control of schistosomiasis, a notable neglected tropical disease (NTD), rely on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ). The dependency on PZQ exclusively is quite alarming, given the spread of the disease (over 200 million people infected and close to 800 million people at risk in three continents) and the threat of drug resistance. This study shows that the oral administration of miltefosine in a daily dose of 20mg/kg for five successive days to mice infected with either invasive, juvenile or adult stages of Schistosoma mansoni resulted in significant reduction of worm burden, hepatic granulomata size and amelioration of hepatic pathology. Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed that miltefosine induced severe tegumental damage in adult schistosomes. In conclusion, we believe this is the first study highlighting miltefosine as a promising novel agent for schistosomiasis mansoni.
Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. mahaeissa19@yahoo.com
Maha M
MM
Eissa
Mervat Z
MZ
El-Azzouni
Eglal I
EI
Amer
Nahed M
NM
Baddour
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; C039128:miltefosine