Objective To assess the effect of artemether on the tegument of adult Schistosoma haematobium harbored in mice. Methods Ten mice were infected subcutaneously with 100-120 S. haematobium cercariae each. At day 81 post-infection, 8 mice were treated orally with 400 mg/kg artemether. Mice were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days post-treatment, and schistosomes were collected by the perfusion technique, fixed and examined under a scanning electron microscope. Schistosomes obtained from the 2 untreated mice served as a control. Results Twenty-four hours post-treatment, tubercles on the tegument of male worms showed lesions, characterized by enlargement, collapse and partial peeling off from the border with the tegument. In both male and female worms, the tegument showed focal or extensive swelling, fusion, vacuolization, erosion, peeling, and destruction of sensory structures. Three days post-treatment,tegumental alterations further aggravated; particularly severe damage was the swelling or collapse of the oral sucker observed in both sexes. In addition, extensive swelling, erosion and peeling of tegumental ridges and destruction of discoidlike sensory structures were seen in female worms. Seven to 14 days post-treatment, moderate-to-severe damage was still evident in some worms, whereas other worms surviving the treatment showed apparent recovery in most parts of their tegument. Conclusion Artemether causes extensive and severe tegumental damage in adult S. haematobium.

Objective To perform a temporal examination of ultrastructural alterations in adult Schistosoma haematobium due to artemether Methods Eight mice infected with 100-120 S. haematobium cercariae for 81 days were treated intragastrically with 400 mg/kg artemether. At 24 hours, 3, 7 and 14 days post-treatment, groups of 2 mice were sacrificed and schistosomes collected by the perfusion technique. Worm samples were fixed and examined by transmission electron microscopy. Schistosomes were also obtained from 2 untreated mice that served as control.Results Typical ultrastructural alterations included swelling, lysis and vacuolization of the tegumental matrix, and disappearance of basal membrane. In sensory organelles and tubercles, there was extensive or local lysis of internal structure. In the musculature, parenchymal tissues, syncytium and gut epithelial cells, focal or extensive lysis, decrease in granular endoplasmic reticulum, vacuolization and degeneration of mitochondria were observed. These alterations became apparent both in male and female worms 24 hours post-treatment. In female worms, severe damage to the vitelline cells was also observed, resulting in the emergence of vacuoles, a decrease in granular endoplasmic reticulum,fusion of vitelline balls or even collapse of damaged vitelline cells. The most extensive tegumental alterations were observed 3-7 days post-treatment. Whilst 14 days post-treatment ultrastructural damage was still apparent, the tegument of some worms showed similar features to those recovered from untreated control mice. Conclusion Administration of artemether to mice infected with adult S. haematobium results in extensive damage to the ultrastructure in the tegument and subtegument tissues of the worms, confirming previous results with other schistosome species.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of artemether and artesunate on adult Schistosoma mansoni in experimental mice.Methods The mice were administered intragastrically with artemether or artesunate 46 days after being infected with cercariae of S.mansoni subcutaneously. On Day 1,a dose of 400, 300, 200 mg/kg of artemether or artesunate was administered to the mice. From Day 2 to Day 7, a half above dose was administered. On Day 7, the single-dose groups were administered with artemether or artesunate at the dose of 1600, 1200, 800 mg/kg, meanwhile, an infected group of mice was served as control, untreated. Results With 7-day therapy of artemether at the dosage of 1600, 1200, 800 mg/kg, the worm reduction rates were 53%, 49% and 53%, respectively, and female worm reduction rates were from 78%-82%, compared with the control group.The therapeutic effects of artemether on single-dose groups were similar. The worm reduction rates, with 7-day therapy of artemether at the dosage of 1600, 1200, 800 mg/kg , were 16%,37% and 49%, respectively, compared with the control group. Conclusion The efficacy of therapy with artemether and artesunate on S.mansoni infection mice were relatively well. Concerning the therapeutic effect and toxicity, artemether is slightly better than artesunate.