In vitro effects of flubendazole on Echinococcus granulosus

M. ELISSONDO . M. DOPCHIZ . L. CEBALLOS . L. ALVAREZ .S. SÁNCHEZ BRUNI . C. LANUSSE . G. DENEGRI

PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH

Springer-Verlag GmbH

Lugar: Berlin, Heidelberg; Año: 2006 vol. 98 p. 317 - 323

0932-0113

Abstract The aim of the present work was to determine the  in vitro protoscolicidal effect of flubendazole (FLBZ) against Echinococcus granulosus. Protoscoleces of E. granulosus were incubated with FLBZ at  concentrations  of 10, 5 and 1 ìg/ml. The first signs of FLBZ-induced  damage were observed 3 days post-incubation. A clear  protoscolicidal effect, reducing the vitality of protoscoleces  to 35.6±0.7%, was observed after 18 days of incubation.  After 25 days of FLBZ incubation (5 ìg/ml), the percentage  of vital protoscoleces was 13.9±5.9%. Protoscolex mortal ity was 100% (10 and 1 ìg/ml) and 0.7±0.7% (5 ìg/ml)  after FLBZ incubation for 30 days. Results of vitality tests were consistent with the tissue damage observed at the ultrastructural level. The primary site of damage was the  tegument of the parasite. The morphological changes  included contraction of the soma region, formation of  blebs on the tegument, rostellar disorganization, loss of  hooks and destruction of microtriches. The data reported in  this article demonstrate a clear in vitro effect of FLBZ against E. granulosus protoscoleces.