The Role of Praziquantel in the Prevention and Treatment of Fibrosis Associated with Schistosomiasis: A Review

Table 1

Activity of praziquantel monotherapy against hepatic and splenic fibrosis associated with schistosomiasis mansoni.

Animal model	Pattern of fibrosis	Treatment regimen	Effect on schistosomiasis-induced fibrosis	Reference
Mouse	Hepatic fibrosis	Administration of praziquantel at a dose of 250 mg/kg 8 weeks postinfection	A prompt reduction in liver parasite egg load with no viable eggs, and a moderate decrease in liver fibrosis 10 weeks post-treatment; and arrest of fibrosis and reduction of liver collagen content to normal levels by 20 weeks post-treatment	32
Swiss albino mouse	Hepatic fibrosis	Administration of praziquantel at a dose of 250 mg/kg 8, 12, and 20 weeks postinfection	A reduction of total collagen content and recovery of type III/I collagen ratio to normal limits following treatment given 8 weeks postinfection	33
Syrian golden hamster	Hepatic fibrosis and splenic fibrosis	Administration of praziquantel at a dose of 100 mg/kg 12, 13, 14, and 15 weeks postinfection	A significant reduction of granulomas, CAA and CCA in hepatic specimens and a clear-cut reduction of fibrosis, granulomas, CAA and CCA in splenic specimens	34
CBA/J^k mouse	Hepatic fibrosis	Administration of praziquantel at a dose of 300 mg/kg for 2 days 8 weeks postinfection	Amelioration of hepatic granulomatous pathology, reduction of collagen I, III, and IV gene expression at 6 and 12 months post-treatment, and resorption of liver fibrous tissue by 71.4% 12 months post-treatment	35
Swiss webster mice	Hepatic fibrosis	Administration of praziquantel at a dose of 250 mg/kg 32 days postinfection for 4 consecutive days	Elimination of egg granulomas or collagen fibrils, and a reduction in the expression of STAT1, STAT4, IFN-γ, TBET, IL-4, CCL12, and CCL22	36
Swiss webster mice	Hepatic fibrosis	Treatment with praziquantel at a dose of 80 mg/kg 50 days postinfection for 5 consecutive days	A significant reduction in the volume density of hepatocytes, sinusoids, and hepatic fibrosis	37
Balb/C mouse	Hepatic fibrosis	Treatment with praziquantel at a dose of 400 mg/kg twice daily 12 weeks postinfection for a week followed by praziquantel treatment at a dose of 400 mg/kg twice daily for 4 weeks	No significant reduction in collagen deposition, hydroxyproline level, or granuloma areas	38

CAA, circulating anodic antigen; CCA, circulating cathodic antigen; STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription; IFN, interferon, IL, interleukin; CCL, C–C motif chemokine ligand.