Effects of administration of an organo-phosphorus compound as an antibilharzial agent, with special reference to plasma cholinesterase.

The organo-phosphorus compound Dipterext (trichlorphon; OO-dimethyl-2,2,2,-trichlorethyl phosphonate) has attracted considerable attention during the past few years. Besides its use as an insecticide, an attempt has been made to employ this substance for the treatment of intestinal parasites (Beheyt, Lebrun, Cerf, Dierickx, and Degroote, 1961 ; Cerf, Lebrun, and Dierickx, 1962). Schistosomiasis is a very common condition in the United Arab Republic and a simplified course of treatment given by mouth would be a great improvement on the treatment in use. Hence a trial experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of Dipterex in treating bilharziasis.