To further strengthen the evidence-base of
artemether for the control of
schistosomiasis japonica, a randomised controlled trial was carried out in the Poyang Lake region, a highly endemic area in southern China. A total of 783 individuals, aged 6-60 years, were enrolled. They were first given a single oral dose of
praziquantel (50 mg/kg). Then, they were randomly assigned oral
artemether (6 mg/kg) or placebo, administered once every 2 weeks for 9-11 doses, covering the entire transmission season for Schistosoma japonicum in 2004. Stool examination 1 month after the final dosing revealed eggs of S. japonicum in 3/373 (0.8%) of the
artemether recipients and 56/361 (15.0%) in placebo recipients (chi2=53.69, P<0.001). Compared to the baseline, the geometric mean intensity of S. japonicum
infection had decreased by 96.1% in the
artemether group, and increased by 50.8% in the placebo group. No acute cases of
schistosomiasis japonica were observed in the
artemether group, whereas three such cases were reported from the placebo group. Compliance with regard to multi-doses of
artemether and placebo was 84.9, and 77.9%, respectively. This study confirms that repeated oral
artemether produces no
drug-related adverse effects, significantly reduces incidence and intensity of patent S. japonicum
infection and results in high compliance. Hence it can be used as an additional tool for the control of
schistosomiasis japonica in the lake regions of China.