Abstract
An investigation of the chemotherapeutic effects of 2 anthelmintics, albendazole (ABZ, methyl 5-[propylthio]benzimidazole-2-carbamate) and mebendazole (MBZ, methyl 5-[benzoyl]benzimidazole-2-carbamate), onHymenolepis microstoma andHymenolepis diminuta in experimentally infected mice and rats is reported. Single (50 mg/kg) or multiple daily oral doses (50 mg kg−1 day−1 for 3 consecutive days) of MBZ had no effect onH. microstoma; at necropsy, the drug treated mice harbored appreciable numbers of the parasite in the bile duct and biliary passages. ABZ was also inactive when given as a single oral 50 mg/kg dose on day 27 PI. Better results were obtained when ABZ was administered at a dosage of 50 mg kg−1 day−1 for 3 consecutive days; the reduction in worm burden obtained with this treatment regimen was 50%. These results are in marked contrast to those obtained with the same anthelmintics against enteralH. diminuta in rats which succumbed at lower dosages. A review was made of the published reports on the pharmacokinetic behavior of these benzimidazole carbamate anthelmintics and a hypothesis for the inactivity of MBZ againstH. microstoma is proposed.
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McCracken, R.O., Lipkowitz, K.B. & Dronen, N.O. Efficacy of albendazole and mebendazole againstHymenolepis microstoma andHymenolepis diminuta . Parasitol Res 78, 108–111 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931650
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931650