SCHISTOSOME RESISTANCE TO PRAZIQUANTEL - FACT OR ARTIFACT

Praziquantel is the current drug of choice for human schistosomiasis. Recent reports from laboratory and field studies concerning reduced pr aziquantel efficacy against Schistosoma mansoni have generated some co ntroversy. The prevailing question is whether the emergence of strains of schistosome resistant to praziquantel is a fact, or an artifact re sulting from erroneous field or laboratory experimentation. In this ar ticle, Padraic Fallon, Liang-feng Tao, Magdi Ismail and James Bennett examine the available evidence for schistosome resistance to praziquan tel. Contributory factors to the schistosomicidal activity of praziqua ntel, which may interfere with evaluation of drug efficacy or resistan ce, are also considered.