Effectiveness of praziquantel against Taenia saginata infections in Ethiopia.

Twenty-six individuals infected with Taenia saginata, 18 males and eight females ranging in age from 19-46 years, were treated successfully by a single oral dose of praziquantel at 10 mg kg-1 body weight. The drug was well tolerated, and no appreciable side effects were observed. Of the 26 patients, eight harboured one worm and the remainder harboured two or more worms; eight worms were obtained from one individual. In all 75 worms were recovered, ranging in length from 1.05-4.55 m, with a mean length of 2.26 +/- 0.36 m. The number of segments per worm ranged from 283-758, with a mean of 450 +/- 57.6. The mean wet and dry weights of the worms were found to be 26.1 +/- 2.7 g and 4.00 +/- 0.32 g respectively. The mean length of the worms, the mean number of segments per worm and the mean wet and dry weights were observed to decrease significantly (P less than 0.01) with an increase in the number of worms harboured by the patient.

Observations on self-induced Taenia saginata infection.

Three Cysticercus bovis cysts were ingested voluntarily and the prepatent period was found to be 84 days. Observation on the frequency of proglottid apolysis for 26 days revealed a total of 85 segments with or without faeces. Abdominal pain began one month before the prepatent period. Nausea, headache, and disturbed sleep became apparent only after the end of the prepatent period. During the segment shedding period, a 10.5% increase in eosinophilia and a 13.0% increase in lymphocytes were observed. A count of eggs in 20 gravid segments revealed an average of 89,000 eggs per segment. Treatment using praziquantel a single dosage of 10 mg/kg body weight expelled the worm including the scolex.