Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of silymarin in the treatment on asymptomatic Giardia infections in dogs

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We have reported previously the efficacy of antiprotozoal drugs against canine giardiasis (In press, Journal of Veterinary Clinic, the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics). Fenbendazole was found to be the most efficacious for the treatment of canine giardiasis. There were no significant differences between the efficacy of albendazole and fenbendazole against canine giardiasis. On the other hand, the efficacy of metronidazole for the treatment of canine giardiasis, the efficacy was lower when compared to that of albendazole and fenbendazole. On the basis of these results, to evaluate clinical effect of silymarin, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of metronidazole alone, or combined with silymarin for 2 weeks for canine giardiasis. In addition, to observe effects on nutrition, we investigated the changes of body weight, the serum biochemical indicators for liver inflammation (GOT, GPT, NH3), the liver cell regeneration indicators (total protein, albumin) and the hematological changes during treatment (WBC, RBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC). The dogs were allocated to four groups; one group was treated with silymarin (3.5 mg/kg once a day, oral), another with metronidazole (50 mg/kg once a day, oral), and the other group with silymarin (3.5 mg/kg once a day, oral) plus metronidazole (50 mg/kg once a day, oral), while control group remained nontreated. The fecal samples from all the dogs were examined, using the ZSCT and giardia antigen test kit (SNAP* Giardia, IDEXX Laboratories), from each dog of each group for three times a week for 2 weeks. Dogs were considered to have giardiasis when one or more of the fecal samples had positive results for Giardia cysts. Seven days after treatment, the efficacy of silymarin plus metronidazole was found 79%, whereas that of metronidazole was 72%. Ten days post-treatment the efficacy of metronidazole plus silymarin (91%) was significantly different in comparison with that of metronidazole (75%). Two weeks post-treatment no cysts were detected in the fecal samples in the dogs of metronidazole or silymarin plus metronidazole-treated groups. Whereas, the fecal samples of all the dogs of the control and only silymarin-treated groups were giardia positive. Signs of side effects were not observed in silymarin plus metronidazole-treated dogs. But poor appetite and intermittent vomiting signs were observed in two dogs of the metronidazole-treated group that resolved when metronidazole administration was discontinued. The body weight of those treated with metronidazole was significantly decreased in comparison with those treated with silymarin and metronidazole plus silymarin. There were significant differences of body weight between the dogs treated with silymarin and metronidazole. Two weeks after metronidazole treatment, serum concentration of GOT, GPT and NH3 were significantly increased in comparison with those treated with silymarin. On the other hand, the serum concentration of GOT, GPT and NH3 were not significantly increased when treated with silymarin plus metronidazole compared to those treated with metronidazole. Serum total protein and albumin concentrations were decreased after metronidazole treatment as compared to those treated with silymarin and silymarin plus metronidazole. The concentrations of serum total protein and albumin decreased significantly in metronidazole-treated group as compared to that of treated with silymarin. The numbers of WBC and RBC did show significant differences in the dogs treated with metronidazole, while MCV, MCH were significant by different between silymarin and metronidazole-treated dogs. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in MCHC in any groups. These data suggest that silymarin, in supplement with antiprotozoal drugs, can influence the therapy of canine giardiasis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abe N, Read C, Thompson RC, Iseki M (2005) Zoonotic genotype of Giardia intestinalis detected in a ferret. J Parasitol 91:179–182

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barr SC (1998) Enteric protozoal infections. In: Greene CE (ed) Infectious disease of the dog and cat, 2nd edn. WB Saunders Co, Philadelphia, pp 482–491

    Google Scholar 

  • Barr SC, Bowman DD, Heller RL (1994) Efficacy of fenbendazole against giardiasis in dogs. Am J Vet Res 55:988–990

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barr SC, Bowman DD, Heller RL (1993) Efficacy of albendazole against giardiasis in dogs. Am J Vet Res 54:926–928

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beale BS, Goring RL, Schaer M, Robertson SA (1991) Surgical treatment of perforating duodenal ulcer in a dog by use of modified choledochoduodenostomy and gastrojejunostomy. J Am Vet Med Assoc 198:281–285

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bell CA, Dykstra CC, Naiman NA, Cory M, Fairley TA, Tidwell RR (1993) Structure-activity studies of dicationically substituted bis-benzimidazoles against Giardia lamblia: correlation of antigiardial activity with DNA binding affinity and giardial topoisomerase II inhibition. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 37:2668–2673

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boothe DM (1990) Drug therapy in cat: a therapeutic category approach. J Am Vet Med Assoc 196:1659–1669

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caylor KB, Cassimatis MK (2001) Metronidazole neurotoxicosis in two cats. J Am Anim Hos Assoc 37:258–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Chander R, Kapoor NK, Dhawan BN (1989) Hepatoprotective activity of silymarin against hepatic damage in Mastomys natalensis infected with Plasmodium berghei. Indian J Med Res 90:472–477

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chon SK, Kim NS (2005) The efficacy of albendazole, fenbendazole and metronidazole for treatment of Canine Giardia. J Vet Clin (in processing)

  • Dewick PM (1997) Medical natural products. Wiley, New York, pp 138–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Dow SW (1988) Management of anaerobic infections. Vet Clin North Am Sm Anim Pract 18:1167–1182

    Google Scholar 

  • Dow SW, LeCouteur RA, Poss ML, Beadleston D (1989) Central nervous system toxicosis associated with metronidazole treatment of dog: five cases (1984–1987). J Am Vet Med Assoc 195:365–368

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey JP (1993) Intestinal protozoa infections. Vet Clin North Am Sm Anim Pract 23:37–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Eilice FP (1952) Studies on the cytology and life history of a Giardia from the laboratory rat. Univ Calif Publ Zool 57:53–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Finch R, Moore M, Roen D (1992) A warning to clinicians: metronidazole neurotoxicity in a dog. Prog Vet Neurol 2:307–309

    Google Scholar 

  • Gazak R, Svobodova A, Psotova J, Sedmera P, Prikrylova V, Walterova D, Kren V (2004) Oxidised derivatives of silybin and their antiradical and antioxidant activity. Bioorg Med Chem 12:5677–5687

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Georgi JR, Georgi ME, Theodorides VJ (1990) Parasitology for veterinarians, 5th edn. WB Saunders Co, Philadelphia, pp 268–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Giangaspero A, Paoletti B, Iorio R, Traversa D (2005) Prevalence and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis from sheep in central Italy. Parasitol Res 96(1):32–37

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graczyk RC, Thompson RCA, Fayer R, Adams P, Morgan UM, Lewis EJ (1999) Giardia duodenalis of genotype A recovered from clams in the Chesapeake Bay subestuary, Rhode River. Am J Trop Med Hyg 61:526–529

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grant J, Mahanty S, Khadir A, MacLean JD, Kokoskin E, Yeager B, Joseph L, Diaz J, Gotuzzo E, Mainville N, Ward BJ (2001) Wheat germ supplement reduces cyst and trophozoite passage in people with giardiasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:705–710

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta OP, Sing S, Bani S, Sharma N, Malhotra S, Gupta BD, Banerjee SK, Handa SS (2000) Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of silymarin acting through inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. Phytomedicine 7:21–24

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang JM, Wang CJ, Chou FP, Tseng TH, Hsieh YS, Lin WL, Chu CY (2002) Inhibitory effect of berberine on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative damage in rat liver. Arch Toxicol 76:664–670

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jergens AE (1999) Inflammatory bowel disease: current perspectives. Vet Clin North Am Sm Anim Pract 29:501–521

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkpatrick CE (1987) Giardiasis. Vet Clin North Am Sm Anim Pract 17:1377–1387

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkpatrick CE (1988) Epizootiology of endoparasitic infections in pet dogs and cats presented to a veterinary teaching hospital. Vet Parasitol 30:113–124

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lalle M, Jimenez-Cardosa E, Caccio SM, Pozio E (2005) Genotyping of Giardia duodenalis from humans and dogs from Mexico using a beta-giardin nested polymerase chain reaction assay. J Parasitol 91:203–205

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lieber CS, Leo MA, Cao Q, Ren C, DeCarli LM (2003) Silymarin retards the progression of alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis in baboons. J Clin Gastroenterol 37:336–339

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu CL, Wang JM, Chu CY, Cheng MT, Tseng TH (2002) In vivo protective effect of protocatechuic acid on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced rat hepatotoxicity. Food Chem Toxicol 40:635–641

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luper S (1998) A review of plant used in the treatment of liver diseases: part 1. Altern Med Rev 3:410–424

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall MM, Naumovitz D, Ortega Y, Sterling CR (1997) Waterborne protozoan pathogens. Clin Microbiol Rev 10:67–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Pepping J (1999) Milk tistle: Silibum marianum. Am J Health Syst Pharm 56:1195–1197

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perez-Victoria JM, Perez-Victoria FJ, Conseil G, Maitrejean M, Comte G, Barron D, Di Pietro A, Castanys S, Gamarro F (2001) High-affinity binding of silybin derivatives to the nucleotide-binding domain of a Leishmania tropica P-glycoprotein-like transporter and chemosensitization of a multidrug-resistant parasite to daunomycin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 45(2):439–446

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins SE, Yan LL, Shen Z, Hayward A, Murphy JC, Fox JG (1996) Use of PCR and culture to detect Helicobacter pyroli in naturally infected cats following triple antimicrobial therapy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 40:1486–1490

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petmitr PC, Ramdja M, Kajomdechakiat S (2000) In vitro sensitivity of Trichomonas vaginalis to DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 31(1):118–122

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plumb DC (1999) Veterinary drug handbook, 3rd edn. Iowa State Univ Press, Ames, pp 424–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Saija A, Scalese M, Lanza M, Marzullo D, Bonina F, Castelli F (1995) Flavonoids as antioxidant agents: importance of their interaction with biomembranes. Free Radic Biol Med 19:481–486

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saxon B, Magne ML (1993) Reversible central nervous system toxicosis associated with metronidazole therapy in three cats. Prog Vet Neurol 4:25–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokol T, Randolph JF, Nachbar S, Rodi C, Barr SC (1997) Development of bone marrow toxicosis after albendazole administration in a dog and cat. J Am Vet Med Assoc 210:1753–1756

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taboada J, Dimski DS (1995) Hepatic encephalopathy: clinical signs, pathogenesis, and treatment. Vet Clin North Am Sm Anim Pract 25:337–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson RCA, Hopkins RM, Homan WL (2000) Nomenclature and genetic groupings of Giardia infecting mammals. Parasitol Today 16:210–213

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tjalve H (1997) Adverse reactions to veterinary drugs reported in Sweden during 1991–1995. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 20:105–110

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tracy JW, Webster LT (1996) Dugs used in the chemotherapy of protozoal infections. In: Hardman JG, Limbird LE (eds) Goodman & Gilman’s the pharmacologic basis of therapeutics, 9th edn. McGraw Hill, New York, pp 987–1008

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsuchiya H (1931) The localization of Giardia canis (Hegner, 1922) as affected by diet. J Parasitol 18:232–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner H, Seligmann O, Lotter H (1985) In: Farkas L, Gabor M and Kellay F (eds) Recent advances in the chemistry, Stereochemistry, synthesis and pharmacology of flavoligans, flavonoids and bioflavonoids. Elsevier, New York, p 139

  • Wellington K, Jarwis B (2001) Silymarin: a review of its clinical properties in the management of hepatic disorders. BioDrugs 15:465–489

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer JF, Burrington DB (1986) Comparison of four protocols for the treatment of canine giardiasis. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 22:168–172

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chon Seung Ki Animal Clinic, Chonje, South Korea

    Seung-Ki Chon

  2. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, 561-756, Chonju , South Korea

    Nam-Soo Kim

Authors
  1. Seung-Ki Chon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nam-Soo Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nam-Soo Kim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chon, SK., Kim, NS. Evaluation of silymarin in the treatment on asymptomatic Giardia infections in dogs. Parasitol Res 97, 445–451 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1462-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1462-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation