title: Efficacy and safety of arachidonic acid for treatment of Schistosoma mansoni-infected children in Menoufiya, Egypt.
abstract: Arachidonic acid (ARA), an omega-6 fatty acid, kills juvenile and adult schistosomes in vitro and displays highly significant and safe therapeutic effects in mice and hamsters infected with Schistosoma mansoni or S. haematobium. This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of ARA in treatment of school-age children infected with S. mansoni. In total, 66 S. mansoni-infected schoolchildren (20-23 children/study arm) received a single dose of 40 mg/kg praziquantel (PZQ), ARA (10 mg/kg per day for 15 days), or PZQ combined with ARA. The children were examined before and after treatment for worm egg counts in stool and blood biochemical and immunological parameters. ARA proved to be as efficacious as PZQ in treatment of schoolchildren with low infection intensity (78% and 85% cure rates, respectively). For moderate-intensity infection, the ARA and PZQ combination led to 100% cure rate. Biochemical, hematological, and immunological parameters were either unchanged or ameliorated after ARA therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufiya, Egypt; Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Human Evidence Department, DSM North America, Columbia, Maryland; Research and Development Department, DSM Biotechnology Center, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Selim
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufiya, Egypt; Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Human Evidence Department, DSM North America, Columbia, Maryland; Research and Development Department, DSM Biotechnology Center, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: El Sagheer
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufiya, Egypt; Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Human Evidence Department, DSM North America, Columbia, Maryland; Research and Development Department, DSM Biotechnology Center, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Azza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Amir
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufiya, Egypt; Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Human Evidence Department, DSM North America, Columbia, Maryland; Research and Development Department, DSM Biotechnology Center, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rashida
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barakat
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufiya, Egypt; Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Human Evidence Department, DSM North America, Columbia, Maryland; Research and Development Department, DSM Biotechnology Center, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hadley
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufiya, Egypt; Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Human Evidence Department, DSM North America, Columbia, Maryland; Research and Development Department, DSM Biotechnology Center, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maaike J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bruins
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Menoufiya, Egypt; Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Human Evidence Department, DSM North America, Columbia, Maryland; Research and Development Department, DSM Biotechnology Center, Delft, The Netherlands rashika@mailer.eun.eg.
authors.forename: Rashika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El Ridi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004534:Egypt; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; C573415:IFNG protein, human; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D014280:Triglycerides; D016753:Interleukin-10; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D011223:Praziquantel; D007371:Interferon-gamma