Anti-Schistosomal Efficacy of <i>Prosopis africana</i> on Laboratory Rats

Abstract

Nine batches of albino mice (CBA strain), each consisting of five mice replicates were infected with approximately 200 cercariae of the helminth parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, per mouse, using the Paddling method. Eight of the batches were subsequently treated with the plant extract at weekly intervals, while the 9th batch, treated with Praziquantel served as the control. Oral dose of 2mg of extract/kg of body weight was administered. The efficacy of the extract against the disease was evaluated from the mean percentage reduction in worm load, mean percentage reduction in tissue egg count and by a qualitative evaluation of hepatosplenic disease. Schistosoma mansoni was highly susceptible to the plant extract administered on days 1, 7, 14, 42 and 49 post-infection but the helminth parasite was not controlled by treatment on days 21, 28 and 35. While mice treated on days 1, 7 and 14 were cured on normal livers and spleens. Those treated on days 42 and 49 were cured but had hepatosplenic disease comparable to those mice in the control, as well as those treated on days 21, 28 and 35, where the extract was ineffective. Cure rate gauged  from percentage worm reduction, was from 80.52 to 87.01% in the experimental mice.

Keywords: screening, anti-schistosomal efficacy, Albinomice, Schistosoma mansoni, and egg count

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp. 93-97