Schistosomes: Treatment & Control

• Drug of Choice: Praziquantel

  • Cure rates: 65-90% after a single dose
  • In uncured individuals, egg excretion is reduced by 90%
• National Schistosomiasis Control & Elimination Program (DOH):

  • Morbidity Control – Mass drug administration
  • Infection Control – Active surveillance
  • Surveillance of School Children
  • Advocacy and Promotion
  • Animal Interventions
• Mass Drug Administration:

  • Preventive Chemotherapy with Praziquantel
  • High burden areas: 2x per year
  • Low-to-moderate areas: 1x per year
  • Very low prevalence areas: Selective deworming
• Snail Control and Animal Surveillance:

  • Molluscicides – Niclosamide
  • Biological Control – Competitor snails
  • Animal Surveillance – Water buffaloes as infection markers in endemic areas