Chemotherapy of schistosomiasis: an update.

No major changes have occurred during the past 20 years regarding the therapeutic tools available to the clinician for the treatment of schistosomiasis. If anything, the two drugs (oxamniquine and metrifonate) that are valuable alternatives to the drug of choice (praziquantel) have become more difficult to procure in some African countries. Here, Donato Cioli summarizes some of the most recent and interesting laboratory studies on potential antischistosomal compounds, and then reviews recent developments related to the mechanism of action of praziquantel and to the possible emergence of praziquantel-resistant schistosomes.