Drug Resistance In Schistosoma Mansoni In Kenya

Abstract

Studies were undertaken to find out whether Schistosoma mansoni worm populations tolerant to two drugs, oxamniquine and praziquantel occur in school children from Kirinyaga and Machakos districts in Kenya. Attempts were also made to induce resistance to praziquantel experimentally. Although oxamniquine (2 x 15mg/kg) produced high egg reductions ()90%), complete cures were low in three schools (51% to 63%) and relatively higher in the remaining 2 schools (74% to 83%). Significant differences in cure rates and egg output reductions were found, both among schools in the same district as well as between schools in the two districts. Lower cure rates and egg reductions were achieved after the second therapy of uncured children and the differences between the two districts were more than at the first higher dosing. Praziquantel pronounced produced significantly cure rates to 98%) oxamniquine, but retreatment of uncured. children did than not cure all the subjects.