STUDY ON DRUG RESISTANCE OF SCHISTOSOMA JAPONICUM DURING ANTIMONIAL TREATMENT

A group of experimentally infected rabbits was divided into three groups.Groups A and B were further divided into four sub-groups and each was treated with antimony potassium tar- trate in doses of 4 mg/kg/day intravenously for 6 successive days in 1—4 courses respectively at intervals of 35 days each.In group B,in addition to the above dose schedule,courses of 6 mg/kg/day for 6 days were given 35 days later.Group C served as control.Dissection was performed 30 days after the last course was given. In both groups A and B,the average number of worms found during dissection was much less in comparison with that of the control.The decrease ran parallel to the increasing number of courses of treatment. The results did not support the view of the possible development of drug resistance of Schistosoma Japonicum during antimonial treatment.Hence,to repeate treatment with antimonials was worthwhile in certain clinical“relapses”.