ITM researchers prove anti-malarial drug to be also effective against another parasitic disease

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by a parasitic worm which is released from infected snails that live in fresh water. The disease is associated with severe organ damage of the liver, bladder or the intestines and it most commonly infects children. Until now, the treatment relied entirely on a single drug, praziquantel. However, its massive use both for treatment and control has made it vulnerable to resistance. To address this pressing need of alternative drugs, ITM researchers identified the combination artesunate-mefloquine, a common treatment for malaria, another parasitic disease, as a potential candidate against Schistosoma. To test its efficacy, they conducted a trial in primary schools across six villages in northern Senegal, where schistosomiasis is prevalent. The trial was carried out in collaboration with the Institute for Health Research, Epidemiological Surveillance and Training (IRESSEF), in Dakar, Senegal, a long-time partner of ITM.

Travellers often suffer from schistosomiasis

With increased travel in the past decades, schistosomiasis is not only confined to (sub)tropical regions anymore: it remains one of the top 5 diseases why travellers visit the ITM travel clinic, post-travel. People become infected by bathing, playing or washing in fresh water, as larval forms of the parasite penetrate the skin during contact with infested water. In terms of impact, this disease is second only to malaria as the most devastating parasitic disease. 

In the framework of the study, the researchers also evaluated innovative diagnostic tools for monitoring infection and morbidity after anti-schistosomal treatment. Additionally, they emphasise that further trials are warranted in different populations and in other countries. The project was funded by the Flemish Government’s Department of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI).

Bottieau, E., Mbow, M., Brosius, I. et al. Antimalarial artesunate–mefloquine versus praziquantel in African children with schistosomiasis: an open-label, randomized controlled trial. Nat Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02719-4