Serum albumin and α-1 acid glycoprotein impede the killing of Schistosoma mansoni by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Imatinib.

•The Abl tyrosine-kinase inhibitor Imatinib is toxic to S. mansoni in vitro but not in vivo in rodents.•Blood components like serum albumin and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) negated Imatinib’s toxicity in vitro.•Erythromycin partially restored the toxicity of Imatinib in vitro.•High levels of AGP upon infection make rodents poor models for examining some small molecule inhibitors.