Repurposing of Anti-malarial SynriamTM and testing its efficacy against Egyptian strain of Schistosoma hematobium

Abstract Background: Trials for discovering an anti-malarial drug, which can compete Schistosomal infection in co-endemic areas, are ongoing. Some preliminary studies were done on Synriam (SYN), anti-malarial drug combination (arterolane maleate and piperaquine phosphate) released from Ranbaxy, to test its anti-schistosomal effect. However, in vitro incubation of SYN with different Schistosoma hematobium stages was not fully assessed. The aim of this study is to determine the anti-schistosomal in vitro effect of SYN on adult and juvenile stages of Schistosoma hematobium- Egyptian strain.Methods: The adult and juvenile worms were incubated with ascending concentrations of SYN and with praziquantel as positive control. Viability, survival, morphological and ultrastructural changes were assessed at different time points.Results: Higher concentrations of 60, 80 µg/ml showed rapid and lethal effects on adult and juvenile stages of both species, with prominent ultrastructural alterations. Concentrations of (10, 20, 40 µg/ml) showed mild to moderate effect on adult schistosomes. However, contrarily to praziquantel, larval immature stages responded significantly and rapidly to low concentration of SYN with 100% death rate.Conclusion: The present findings are consistent with the evaluation of anti-schistosomal therapeutic effect of SYN to be utilized in malaria co-endemic areas.