Efficacy of praziquantel in treating natural schistosome infections in common mergansers.

Fifty-one common mergansers were captured on Douglas Lake (Cheboygan County, Michigan) and their avian schistosome loads were determined by fecal examination. Each bird was given a single dose of 0, 40, or 200 mg/kg of body weight of praziquantel and released. All birds were recaptured within 10 days of drug administration to determine posttreatment schistosome loads. Only the highest dose of praziquantel was found to significantly reduce avian schistosome loads. The potential use of praziquantel in swimmer's itch control programs is discussed.