Chemotherapeutic approaches to schistosomes: current knowledge and outlook

Abstract

The chemotherapy of schistosomiasis has improved greatly in the last few decades. There are three drugs available: metrifonate (active against Schistosoma haematobium), oxamniquine (active against Schistosoma mansoni) as narrow spectrum drugs and praziquantel, which is effective against all important adult schistosome species and their immature stages, as the drug of choice.