[Possibilities of using amphoteric surface agents in the campaign against the agents of schistosomiasis transmission]

Among the chemicals which might be used against the larvas of Schistosoma, some surface active substances show some high activity at very low concentrations (0,1-5 ppm) against the miracidiums and the cercariae. The laurylamidopropylbetain has shown out of a group of products which were tested, a very high activity by lowering considerably the infection by the larvas of the hosts, like molluscs and mice, which were in contact with them. After a serie of tests made in Nigeria, these products showed a satisfactory remanence in tropical waters, in spite of the biodegradation and the adsorption on the suspended particles. It was faced to put that betain into soaps at a concentration of 5% which will permit to renew constantly the active product and which will reduce heavily any infection.