Preventive chemotherapy is one of the tools used for the control of cysticercosis, by treating taeniasis, caused by the parasite Taenia solium (also known as the pork tapeworm). In its adult tapeworm form, T. solium infection in humans is known as taeniasis. Taeniasis can be treated with anthelmintic drugs.
However, it was not clear the differences in effectiveness and safety between the different drugs, doses and regimes. Researchers have now analyzed the efficacy and adverse effects of three drugs against T. solium and reported their results in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. In this review, Michelle Haby of the University of Sonora, Mexico, and colleagues reviewed existing literature on three anthelmintics which have shown efficacy in treating taeniasis. The drugs are albendazole (ALB), praziquantel (PZQ) and niclosamide (NICL). Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria for the review; 11 used a before-after study design, while 9 were controlled trials. The drug tested was ALB in 7 studies, NICL in 4 studies, PZQ in 7 studies, and a combination of PZQ and NICL in two studies.
Meta-analysis indicated that a single dose of PZQ 10 mg/kg cured 99.5% of T. solium taeniasis; ALB 400 mg per day for three consecutive days led to a 96.4% cure rate; and NICL 2g led to a 84.3% cure rate. Less effective were PZQ 5mg/kg, with a 89.0% cure rate, and a single dose of ALB 400 mg, with a 52.0% cure rate. Most studies reported no, or only mild and transient, side effects following administration of the drugs.
The review concluded that the three drugs reviewed “were effective as taenicides and could be considered for use in mass drug administration programs for the control of T. solium taeniasis. Future efficacy research should focus on the conduct of high quality randomized controlled trials with the three different drugs and varying doses, both in comparison to placebo and in head-to-head trials”.
Related link
Development of Preventive chemotherapy for "Taenia solium" taeniasis guideline
