Efficacy of low doses of praziquantel for Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium.

The shortage of available information on the impact of low doses of praziquantel was remedied by a trial of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg kg-1 against double infections of Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni in a rural area of Zimbabwe. No significant differences were found in egg reduction between 20-40 mg kg-1 for S. haematobium and between 30-40 mg kg-1 for S. mansoni. It is suggested that morbidity control can be achieved with lower dosages of praziquantel than currently recommended.