In vitro effect of the reduced flubendazole metabolite against Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces

ELISSONDO, M.C. CEBALLOSS LL ALVAREZZ LL SÁNCHEZ BRUNI I, S. LANUSSEE CC DENEGRII GG

Rosario

Congreso; XLI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental; 2009

SAFE

Flubendazole (FLBZ) showed efficacy against protoescoleces (PSC) and cysts of Echinococcus granulosus in vivo and in vitro. After its oral administration to mice with cystic echinococcosis, equivalent cyst concentrations of the parent drug and its reduced-metabolite (R-FLBZ) were measured. The aim of this work was to point out the in vitro effect of the R-FLBZ metabolite against E. granulosus PSC. PSC were incubated with 11 nmol/ml of FLBZ, R-FLBZ, albendazole (ABZ) or ABZ-sulphoxide (ABZSO). PSC incubated with culture medium containing methanol were used as controls. Vitality was assessed every 6 days using the methylene blue exclusion technique and samples were taken for electron microscopy. As previously shown, the greater effect was produced by FLBZ. R-FLBZ showed a marked effect producing ultrastructural alterations after 6 days post-incubation and reducing the vitality to approximately 27% after 54 days. The outcomes obtained demonstrated the in vitro efficacy of the R-FLBZ against PCS of E. granulosus.