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The efficacy of therapy with albendazole in mice with parasitic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis

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Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is involved in the pathogenesis of parasitic meningitis caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The present study evaluated the efficacy of albendazole therapy in BALB/c mice infected with the third stage larvae of this nematode. Albendazole showed a pronounced larvicidal activity. Eosinophil numbers significantly increased in infected mice but decreased upon administration of albendazole. Densitometric scanning indicated that albendazole reduced gelatinolytic activity detected by gelatin-substrate zymography. In the cerebrospinal fluid, albendazole reduced the lytic area intensity of the 94 kDa MMP-9 band by 46.5% within 7 days, and by 51.5% by day 14. Examination of brain tissue revealed a similar pattern of decrease (48.6% by day 7, and 53.9% by day 14). Albendazole may thus be an effective compound for the treatment of angiostrongyliasis through its larvicidal activity and facilitation of an improved inflammatory response via the reduction of MMP-9 activity.

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Acknowledgement

This study was supported in part by a grant CSMC-89-OM-B-015 from the Chung Shan Medical University, Republic of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biochemistry, Chung Shan Medical University, 402, Taichung , Taiwan

    K. P. Lan & C. J. Wang

  2. Department of Parasitology, Chung Shan Medical University, 110, Section 1, Chien-Kuo North Road, 402, Taichung , Taiwan

    S. C. Lai, K. M. Chen, S. S. Lee & H. H. Lee

  3. Department of Pathology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    J. D. Hsu

Authors
  1. K. P. Lan
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  2. C. J. Wang
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  3. S. C. Lai
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  4. K. M. Chen
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  5. S. S. Lee
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  6. J. D. Hsu
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  7. H. H. Lee
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Correspondence to H. H. Lee.

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Lan, K.P., Wang, C.J., Lai, S.C. et al. The efficacy of therapy with albendazole in mice with parasitic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis . Parasitol Res 93, 311–317 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1105-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1105-9

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