Praziquantel

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Praziquantel is used to treat diseases in humans, mammals, and fish that are caused by infection with several types of internal/gastrointestinal, and external parasites, including:

• Salmon poisoning disease

• Hydatid disease caused by infection of various organs with larval stages of tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus

• Cysticercosis caused by infection of the brain and/or muscles with the eggs and larvae of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium (though it has been judged less effective than albendazole in treatment ofneurocysticercosis)[2]

• In cats and dogs whose gastrointestinal tract is infected with the tapeworms Dipylidium caninum or Taenia taeniaeformis, respectively;[3][4]praziquantel is also often used in fixed combination with pyrantel embonate against the roundworms (ascarids): Toxocara cati andToxascaris leonina.[3][4] Praziquantel is also effective against Echinococcus multilocularis.[3]

• Schistosomiasis caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma.[5] As of 2005, praziquantel is the primary treatment for human schistosomiasis, for which it is usually effective in a single dose.[6]

• Clonorchiasis brought on by the Chinese liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis[7]

• Paragonimiasis caused by infection with lung flukes, mostly of the speciesParagonimus westermani[citation needed]

• Fasciolopsiasis caused by intestinal fluke Fasciolopsis buski[8]