Further studies on mefloquine and praziquantel alone or interaction of both drugs against Schistosoma japonicum in vitro. 2012

Shu-hua Xiao, and Jian Xue, and Hao-bing Zhang
National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease, Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, MOH, WHO Collaborating Centre for Malaria, Schistosomiasis, and Filariasis, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China. shxiao4@hotmail.com

The aim of the present study is to further understand and analyze the interaction of mefloquine with praziquantel against adult Schistosoma japonicum in vitro. Mice infected with S. japonicum cercariae for 35-37 days were sacrificed, and adult schistosomes were collected by perfusion. Schistosomes were placed to each of 12 wells of a Falcon plate and maintained in RPMI 1640 supplemented by 10% calf serum. For determination of 50% and 95% lethal concentration (LC50 and LC95) of the two drugs in vitro, schistosomes were exposed to mefloquine at concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 μg/mL or praziquantel at concentrations of 0.001, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 10, and 30 μg/mL. The plate was incubated at 37°C in 95% air + 5% CO₂ for 72 h. According to the half-life of oral mefloquine and praziquantel in mice, mefloquine combined with praziquantel simultaneously, mefloquine administered within 1 h after praziquantel and praziquantel administered within 17 h after mefloquine were used to evaluate the effect of mefloquine in combination with praziquantel against S. japonicum in vitro. The results showed that the LC50 and LC95 of mefloquine calculated by the Bliss method were 6.17 μg/mL (95% confidence limits, 5.84-6.517 μg/mL) and 8.703 μg/mL (95% confidence limits, 7.632-9.797 μg/mL), respectively. As to praziquantel, no worm death was seen when schistosomes were exposed to praziquantel at concentrations of 0.005-0.2 μg/mL for 72 h. While in the worms exposed to praziquantel 1, 10, and 30 μg/mL, strong spasmodic contractions of the worm body and vesiculation along the worm surface were observed, but 48-75% of the schistosomes survived the exposure in 72-h incubation. Meanwhile, the number of dead worms that emerged in each group was not proportion to the increasing concentrations. Therefore, it is not appropriate to calculate the LC50 and LC95 of praziquantel. For evaluation of the interaction with the two drugs, praziquantel 0.1 or 0.2 μg/mL, which may induce moderate or strong spasmodic contractions of the worm body and vesiculation along the worm surface, was combined with mefloquine 5, 6, or 7 μg/mL. It was found that when mefloquine combined with praziquantel simultaneously or administered 1 h after addition of praziquantel, the spasmodic contraction of the male worm body was antagonized by mefloquine in various degrees according to the concentrations of mefloquine used. Meanwhile, praziquantel-induced weakened motor activity could be reversed by mefloquine. In female worms, morphological alterations and stimulated motor activity induced by mefloquine still developed. Interestingly, using these two regimens to combine mefloquine with praziquantel resulted in no impact or a decrease in worm mortality. On the other hand, praziquantel 0.2 μg/mL administered within 17 h after mefloquine 5 or 6 μg/mL promoted the damage to the tegument of the worms, which led to enhance the worm mortality compared with that of worms exposed to mefloquine alone. The results indicate that in vitro higher concentrations of praziquantel administered within 17 h after mefloquine may increase the effect against adult schistosomes, while praziquantel combined with mefloquine simultaneously or administered 1 h before addition of mefloquine exhibits no impact or decrease in the effect against schistosomes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011223 Praziquantel An anthelmintic used in most schistosome and many cestode infestations. Biltricide,Cesol,Cisticid,Cysticide,Droncit,Drontsit,EMBAY 8440,Prasiquantel,Praziquantel, (+-)-Isomer,Praziquantel, (R)-Isomer,Praziquantel, (S)-Isomer,Pyquiton,Traziquantel
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004347 Drug Interactions The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug. Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000871 Anthelmintics Agents that kill parasitic worms. They are used therapeutically in the treatment of HELMINTHIASIS in man and animal. Anthelmintic,Antihelmintic,Vermifuge,Vermifuges,Antihelmintics
D012549 Schistosoma japonicum A species of trematode blood flukes belonging to the family Schistosomatidae whose distribution is confined to areas of the ASIA, EASTERN. The intermediate host is a snail. It occurs in man and other mammals. Schistosoma japonicums,japonicum, Schistosoma
D015767 Mefloquine A phospholipid-interacting antimalarial drug (ANTIMALARIALS). It is very effective against PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM with very few side effects. Lariam,Mefloquine Hydrochloride,Mephloquine,Ro-21-5998-001,WR-142,490,WR-177,602,Ro 21 5998 001,Ro215998001,WR 142,490,WR 177,602,WR142,490,WR177,602

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