In vitro effects of flubendazole on echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces

ELISSONDO, M; DOPCHIZ, M; CEBALLOS, L; ALVAREZ, L; SANCHEZ BRUNI, S; LANUSSE, C; DENEGRI, G

PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH

SPRINGER

Año: 2006 vol. 98 p. 317 - 323

0932-0113

The aim of the present work was to determine the in vitro protoscolicidal effect of flubendazole against E. granulosus. Protoscoleces were incubated with flubendazole (FLBZ) at concentrations of 10, 5 and 1 mm/ml. Samples of protoscoleces were taken every 5-6 days for vitality assessment using the methylene blue exclusion technique. Additionally, ultrastructure studies concerning scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy were performed. FLBZ at concentrations of 10, 5 and 1 ug/ml produced a protoscolicidal effect reducing the vitality of protoscoleces to 35.6 ± 0.7% after 18 days of incubation. Maximal protoscolicidal effect of FLBZ was observed after 25 days of incubation when the number of vital protoscoleces was 13.9 ± 5.9%. The results of vitality tests was concurrent with the tissue damage observed on the ultrastructural level. The primary site of damage was the tegument of the parasite. The changes included contraction of the soma region, formation of blebs on the tegument, rostellar disorganization, loss of hooks and destruction of microtriches. The data obtained clearly demonstrate that in vitro treatment with FLBZ is effective against E. granulosus protoscoleces.