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An experimental in vitro model for evaluating drugs against protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

Rodolfo Lorenzini  and
Anna Ruggieri
Rodolfo Lorenzini
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Anna Ruggieri
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Abstract

Pharmacological studies carried out on protoscoleces in vitro to standardize conditions that would permit a preliminary estimate of the efficacy of drugs with potential activity against Echinococcus granulosus are reported. Media such as PBS and Hanks solution, maintenance temperature, different pH values and concentrations of various solvents have been tested to check the effects on protoscolex survival in tubes in vitro. Mebendazole has been used as the pharmacological standard reference. Changes in the viability of protoscoleces have been used to demonstrate pharmacological activity. Best conditions were obtained employing Hanks solution and propylene glycol at low concentrations. Mebendazole was not completely effective at the concentrations achievable in human therapy. Linear, reproducible results demonstrated that Hanks solution provides an ideal medium for pharmacological studies. Among tested solvents, propylene glycol and dimethyl sulphoxide showed no lethal activity at low concentrations. At concentrations similar to those normally obtained in human sera, mebendazole, as in vivo, demonstrated only partial lethality for protoscoleces. The present study represents a new experimental approach to chemotherapy of hydatid disease.

Keywords

Echinococcus granulosusprotoscolecesin vitromebendazolechemotherapy
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 64 , Issue 4 , December 1990 , pp. 343 - 348
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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References

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