Chemotherapeutic studies on experimental Schistosoma mansoni infection of Mastomys natalensis.

Comparative chemotherapeutic studies on various well known or newly developed schistosomicidal agents have been carried out in Mastomys natalensis experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Hycanthone, lucanthone, niridazole, Mirasan, the experimental compounds HOE S616, HOE S683, HOE S688, and HOE S201, tartar emetic, stibophen, and stibocaptate acid have shown marked activity when administered in standard daily dosages for 5 consecutive days. Dehydroemetine and bis (p-rosaniline pamoate) proved to be ineffective. The mode of action and the dose-activity relationship of hycanthone methanesulfonate are discussed and compared with the results found for other antimonial and non-antimonial substances.