The prophylactic and curative effect of oltipraz in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni in mice.

Effect of oltipraz on immature and mature forms of Schistosoma mansoni in mice experimentally infected with the Egyptian strain of the worms was assessed. The drug was administered to different groups of mice in a single oral dose of 750 mg/kg body weight 2 hours before infection, 7 days and 15 days after infection and in a single oral dose of 500 mg/kg body weight 30 days and 45 days after infection. Oltipraz was found to be active in reducing the number of worms significantly only when administered in a higher dosage 2 hours before infection and 7 days after infection. Thereafter, the parasites were refractory to the drug action until they have reached sexual maturity 45 days post-infection.