Efficacy Testing Of Praziquantel Againsts Schistosomiasis On Carabaos In Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines

Abstract

Praziquantel (PZQ) is a drug of choice for treating schistosomiasis. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of praziquantel in treating schistosomiasis infected in the study area. The area was conducted in selected barangays of Catarman Northern Samar. Total of eight (8) carabaos which were infected with schistosomiasis were treated. The carabaos received a single treatment with Praziquantel (25mg/kg) and follow up fecal examination every three days after the treatment. The study uses microscopic examination of the three Kato-Katz slides for each individual sample before and after treatment. The cure rate of schistosomiasis infection by Praziquantel after nine-days post-treatment was low, suggesting that worms are killed very slowly or, more likely, that the eggs continue to be released after the adult worm’s death or, the drug maybe under-dose and the worms recovered after a few days. Since the carabaos are in endemic area, the researcher suggests to have the carabao a follow-up treatment for Schistosoma after six (6) months to attain the better efficacy of Praziquantel.