Studies on schistosomiasis V. Testing protective ointments against schistosomiasis by using schistosome dermatitis producing cercariae

Abstract

Six protective ointments selected for use against schistosomiasis were given field tests on 130 persons, using as the test organism the cercariae of the bird schistosome which causes “ koganbyo ” or lakeside disease. Those tested lived in an endemic area, and due to repeated exposures, year after year, had acquired a marked sensitivity, making them good subjects for such a test. With an 8-hour test period of work in rice paddies, copper oleate gave 95.5 per cent. protection, with dibutyl and dimethyl phthalate giving around 70 per cent., followed by N-II, N-I and benzyl benzoate in that order.