EFFECT OF PRAZIQUANTEL ON SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI

3 x 10-6M praziquantel fails to completely paralyse miracidia and cercariae in a short time but they are not infective when maintained in the solution. 3 x 10-5M praziquantel prevents infected snails shedding cercariae but does not kill daughter sporocyts or developing cercariae. As the action of praziquantel on adult worms is not blocked by 10-2M mecamylamine, pempidine or carbachol, but is reduced by calcium depletion, it is suggested that praziquantel may act by permitting calcium influx to muscle cells causing them to contract. © 1979, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.