Schistosoma japonicum is less sensitive to cyclosporin A in vivo than Schistosoma mansoni.

We compared the toxic effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) on postmigratory immature Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum in mice. For each species, CsA was administered either relatively early or late during development. Exposure of 20-day-old S. mansoni to 1 subcutaneous dose of CsA (50 mg/kg) reduced the worm burden by 45% and induced herniae and/or boli of the gut in 32% of perfusable worms. These results agree with previous reports. In addition, CsA induced a marked liver shift (37% of total worm number). For S. japonicum, CsA was administered at 11 days postinfection (PI) because this species migrates more quickly. Killing of worms and damage to the gut were not observed, and only a slight liver shift occurred. Similarly, these effects were not recorded when CsA was administered at the later times of 34 days PI for S. mansoni and 17 days PI for S. japonicum. For both species, CsA stunted worms, affecting both sexes early PI but only females late PI. In conclusion, immature worms of S. japonicum are less sensitive than S. mansoni to CsA. Also, S. mansoni displays marked age-dependent differences in its sensitivity to CsA.