Praziquantel decreases fecundity in Schistosoma mansoni adult worms that survive treatment: evidence from a laboratory life-history trade-offs selection study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mass drug administration of praziquantel is the World Health Organization's endorsed control strategy for schistosomiasis. A decade of annual treatments across sub-Saharan Africa has resulted in significant reductions of infection prevalence and intensity levels, although 'hotspots' remain. Repeated drug treatments place strong selective pressures on parasites, which may affect life-history traits that impact transmission dynamics. Understanding drug treatment responses and the evolution of such traits can help inform on how to minimise the risk of drug resistance developing, maximise sustainable control programme success, and improve diagnostic protocols.

Methods

We performed a four-generation Schistosoma mansoni praziquantel selection experiment in mice and snai

SUBMITTER: Lamberton PHL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5472905 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature