Can albendazole reduce the risk of implantation of spilled protoscoleces? An animal study.

Abstract

Post-operative recurrence of hydatid disease occurs in approximately 10% of patients. The role of pre- or post-spillage chemotherapy with albendazole (10 mg/kg) was investigated in a gerbil model. All animals received approximately 5000 protoscoleces of ovine Echinococcus granulosus by intraperitoneal injection. Pre-spillage albendazole therapy did not protect against the development of cysts whilst a significant reduction in numbers of peritoneal cysts was seen in gerbils treated with albendazole 10 mg/kg for one week after inoculation. Two weeks therapy was no more effective. A very short course of albendazole treatment immediately following intraperitoneal 'spillage' of protoscoleces in a gerbil significantly reduced the number of cysts which developed. This finding may well be of clinical value.

• Authors: D L Morris, J B Chinnery, J D Hardcastle
• Journal: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 80 Issue 3 Pg. 481-4 ( 1986) ISSN: 0035-9203 [Print] England
• PMID: 3798546 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anthelmintics
• Benzimidazoles
• Albendazole

Topics

• Albendazole
• Animals
• Anthelmintics (therapeutic use)
• Benzimidazoles (therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Echinococcosis (prevention & control)
• Echinococcosis, Hepatic (pathology)
• Female
• Gerbillinae
• Liver (pathology)
• Male