Praziquantel is a narrow-spectrum anthelmintic effective basically against tapeworms and a few specific fluke species (e.g. Eurytrema pancreaticum, Schistosoma spp). It is ineffective against any kind of roundworms and external parasites.
It is the most used taenicide in dogs and cats (mainly in the form of tablets, pills, etc, oral suspensions and a few injectables) as well as horses (mostly in oral pastes & gels), very frequently combined with an appropriate nematicide (e.g. ivermectin, pyrantel). There are hundreds of generic brands containing praziquantel worldwide. Use in ruminants or swine is marginal.
Praziquante is also used as a human medicine. It is not used against agricultural or household pests.<
Praziquantel has almost no residual effect, i.e. it kills the parasites during a few hours after treatment but offers no significant protection against re-infestation.
The table below indicates some usual dosing recommendations for praziquantel issued by manufacturers or documented in the scientific literature. They may not be approved in some countries.
| Dosing recommendations for PRAZIQUANTEL |
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| DOGS | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against praziquantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Intramuscular | Echinococcus granulosus | 5.7 mg/kg after confirmed diagn. Rep 24-48 h later |
| Intramuscular | Echinococcus multilocularis | 5.7 mg/kg after confirmed diagn. Rep 24-48 h later |
| Oral | Tapeworms (general) | 5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Diphyllobotrium spp | 25 mg/kg/day x2 consec. days; or 35-40 mg/kg once |
| Oral | Dipylidium caninum | 2.5-5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Echinococcus granulosus | 5-10 mg/kg once; or 1 mg/kg/day x3 consec. days |
| Oral | Echinococcus multilocularis | 5 mg/kg once; or 1 mg/kg/day x3 consec. days |
| Oral | Nanophyetus salmincola | 4-12 mg/kg |
| Oral | Opisthorchis spp | 100 mg/kg once; or 50 mg/kg twice at 24 h interval |
| Oral | Paragonimus spp | 25 mg/kg/day x3 consec. days; or 25 mg/kg twice/day on 2 consec. days |
| Oral | Spirometra spp | 7.5 mg/kg/day x2 consec. days; or 25 mg/kg once |
| Oral | Taenia hydatigena |
2-5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Taenia pisiformis | 1-5 mg/kg |
| Subcutaneous | Tapeworms (general) | 5.7 mg/kg |
| Subcutaneous | Diphyllobotrium spp | 25-40 mg/kg |
| Subcutaneous | Nanophyetus salmincola | 4-12 mg/kg |
| Subcutaneous | Opisthorchis spp | 100 mg/kg once; or 50 mg/kg twice with 24 h interval |
| Subcutaneous | Paragonimus kellicotti | 25 mg/kg/day x3 consec. days |
| Subcutaneous | Spirometra spp | 25 mg/kg/day x2 consec. days |
| Subcutaneous | Taenia pisiformis | 1 mg/kg |
| CATS | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against praziquantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Intramuscular | Echinococcus granulosus | 5.7 mg/kg after confirmed diagn. Rep 24-48 h later |
| Intramuscular | Echinococcus multilocularis | 5.7 mg/kg after confirmed diagn. Rep 24-48 h later |
| Oral | Tapeworms (general) | 5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Diphyllobotrium erinacei | 7.5- 15 mg/kg |
| Oral | Opisthorchis spp | 100 mg/kg once; or 50 mg/kg twice with 24 h interval |
| Oral | Paragonimus kellicotti | 25 mg/kg/day x3 consec. days |
| Oral | Platynosomum spp | 20 mg/kg |
| Oral | Spirometra spp | 20-30 mg/kg |
| Oral | Taenia pisiformis | 1 mg/kg |
| Intramuscular | Opisthorchis spp | 100 mg/kg once; or 50 mg/kg twice with 24 h interval |
| Intramuscular | Paragonimus kellicotti | 25 mg/kg/day x3 consec. days |
| Intramuscular | Platynosomum concinnum | 20 mg/kg |
| Topical (spot-on) | Tapeworms (general) | 12-30 mg/kg |
| CATTLE | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against praziquantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Tapeworms (general) | 10 mg/kg |
| Oral | Cysticercus bovis | 50 mg/kg/day x3 consec. days. After 24 months a few calcified cysts remain in the carcass. |
| Oral | Moniezia spp | 3.75-5.0 mg/kg |
| Oral | Schistosoma spp | 20-30 mg/kg, rep after 2-5 weeks if needed |
| Subcutaneous | Cysticercus bovis | 100 mg/kg |
| SHEEP | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against praziquantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Tapeworms (general) | 3.75-10.0 mg/kg |
| Oral | Moniezia spp | 3.75 mg/kg |
| Oral | Coenurus cerebralis | 50-100 mg/kg/day x 2-5 days |
| Oral | Cysticercus tenuicollis | 50 mg/kg/day x5 days; or 100 mg/kg/day x2 days |
| Oral | Dicrocoelium spp | 50 mg/kg |
| Oral | Eurytrema pancreaticum | 50-70 mg/kg |
| GOATS | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against praziquantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Tapeworms (general) | 10-15 mg/kg |
| Oral | Moniezia spp | 3.75 mg/kg |
| Oral | Coenurus cerebralis | 50-100 mg/kg/day x2-5 days |
| SWINE | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against praziquantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Cysticercus tenuicollis | 50 mg/kg/day x5 consec. days; or 10 mg/kg/day x10 consec. days |
| HORSES | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against praziquantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Tapeworms (general) | 1-2.5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Anoplocephala spp | 1 mg/kg |
| SOUTH AMERICAN CAMELIDS | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against praziquantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Tapeworms (general) | 5 mg/kg |
| Oral | Dicrocoelium spp | 50 mg/kg |
| POULTRY | ||
| Delivery | Parasites | Dose (against praziquantel-susceptible parasites) |
| Oral | Tapeworms (general) | 10 mg/kg |
| Oral | Raillietina tetragona | 7.5-10.0 mg/kg |
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Dosing recommendations for antiparasitics depend on national regulations. National regulatory authorities determine whether a product is approved for a given indication, i.e. use on a particular host at a specific dose and against a specific parasite. Check the labels of the products available in your country for specific information on approved indications.
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