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Artemether shows promising female schistosomicidal and ovicidal effects on the Egyptian strain of Schistosoma mansoni after maturity of infection

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Abstract

Artemether is an artemisinin derivative that is used as an antimalarial drug, especially in situations where chloroquine resistance is suspected. This compound has proved to be a good prophylactic agent against schistosomiasis japonica in China. In the present study, the therapeutic efficacies of different artemether-dosing protocols were evaluated in experimentally infected mice harbouring adult Schistosoma mansoni (Egyptian strain). Mice were treated on day 46 onwards with three dosing protocols (400 mg/kg/day for 2 days; 200 mg/kg/day for 4 days; 100 mg/kg/day for 6 days) after being infected. A number of parasitological and histopathological criteria were employed in the assessment of drug efficacies compared to infected untreated control 2 weeks post-treatment. The results of the present study suggest that artemether is efficacious against the Egyptian strain of S. mansoni with total worm reductions ranging from 40.7% to 59.7% and female worm reductions ranging from 69.3% to >90%. In addition, artemether induced significant reductions, ranging from 75.2% to 82.6%, in the liver tissue egg loads as well as significant reductions, ranging from 68.8% to 78.9% in the intestinal wall egg loads. It also induced significant alterations in the oogram pattern in the intestinal mucosa of infected mice with cessation of oviposition and increased rates of dead eggs. Antipathologic activities were also evident in the amelioration of granulomas in the liver with increased ratios of healed to active ones. In conclusion, artemether could be a promising agent in the control of schistosomiasis mansoni due to its schistosomicidal effects on female worms and to its ovicidal power as well as its potentiality in the improvement of hepatic lesions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to those who helped us in the Schistosome Biological Supply Centre, TBRI (Cairo, Egypt). Our outmost gratitude is to Prof. Shu-Hua Xiao, China, for the online help regarding artemether suspension preparation. We greatly acknowledge the suggestions and comments provided by Prof. Dr. Amel el Sahn, High Institute of Public Health (HIPH), Alexandria University, and Prof. Dr. Nibal Hammouda, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University. We also thank Mr. Hany Hussein from the Biostatistics Department, HIPH, Alexandria University, for assistance in the statistical analysis of data.

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  1. Rashad Abdul-Ghani

    Present address: Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, 165, El-Horreya Avn., Hadara, Alexandria, Egypt

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen

    Rashad Abdul-Ghani

  2. Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Naguiba Loutfy & Azza Hassan

  3. Department of Pathology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Manal Sheta

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  1. Rashad Abdul-Ghani
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  2. Naguiba Loutfy
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  4. Azza Hassan
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Correspondence to Rashad Abdul-Ghani.

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Abdul-Ghani, R., Loutfy, N., Sheta, M. et al. Artemether shows promising female schistosomicidal and ovicidal effects on the Egyptian strain of Schistosoma mansoni after maturity of infection. Parasitol Res 108, 1199–1205 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2163-9

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