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Effect of Mirazid in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice: parasitological and pathological assessment

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Abstract

Conflicting reports are found in the literature about the antischistosomal efficacy of Mirazid (MZ), which is a special formulation of myrrh obtained from the stem of the plant Commiphora molmol. This initiated the present study to assess this drug for the first time in experimental schistosomiasis japonicum. Mice were divided into four groups: infected untreated control (I); infected treated with MZ, 500 mg/kg (II); infected treated with MZ, 250 mg/kg (III); and infected treated with praziquantel (PZQ), 200 mg/kg (IV). The drugs were given 7 weeks post-infection for five successive days. All animals were killed 3 weeks posttreatment. Results showed no signs of antibilharzial activity of MZ. Total worms, total tissue egg load, egg developmental stages, and granuloma area were not affected by any of the MZ treatment regimens as compared to the infected untreated group (P > 0.05 for all variables). These results were in contrast to those obtained in PZQ-treated animals in which 82.82 % total worm reduction, 94.62 % egg reduction, and 86.35 % granuloma area reduction were observed. Also, it significantly increased the percentage of dead ova and decreased the percentage of mature ova with complete absence of immature ones in comparison with the control group (P < 0.01 for all variables). In conclusion, the results of the current study raise serious doubts about the antischistosomal activity of MZ.

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Acknowledgments

Mohamed EL-Malky was awarded a grant by Short-term Invitation Program of Japan Student Services Organization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt

    Mohamed A. EL-Malky & Samar N. El-Beshbishi

  2. Section of Environmental Parasitology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo, Japan

    Mohamed A. EL-Malky & Nobu Ohta

  3. Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China

    Shao-hong Lu

  4. Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Niveen S. Saudy

Authors
  1. Mohamed A. EL-Malky
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  2. Shao-hong Lu
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  3. Samar N. El-Beshbishi
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  4. Niveen S. Saudy
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  5. Nobu Ohta
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Correspondence to Mohamed A. EL-Malky.

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EL-Malky, M.A., Lu, Sh., El-Beshbishi, S.N. et al. Effect of Mirazid in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice: parasitological and pathological assessment. Parasitol Res 112, 373–377 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-3145-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-3145-x

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