title: Levamisole and mebendazole in the treatment of bancroftian infection.
abstract: Levamisole and mebendazole, broad spectrum anthelminthic compounds were tested against microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti, and the results were compared with similarly treated diethylcarbamazine and untreated group. Levamisole at a dosage of 3 mg/kg daily for 8 days showed marked reduction in both microfilaria rate and microfilaria density and immediately thereafter mf-rate steadily increased almost up to pre-treatment level, the mf-density however showed only marginal increase. Mebendazole at dosage of 6 mg/kg daily for 10 days following 8 days treatment of levamisole also showed marginal increase of mf-rate but no increase of mf-density. Treatment with DEC at a dosage of 6 mg/kg daily for 12 days showed comparatively better results both in respect of reduction in mf-rate and mf-density. The reactions - severity and duration were more among levamisole treated groups as compared to DEC treated group. Thus with the dosages tried, DEC could be considered as a better drug than levamisole and mebendazole. Both the latter compounds had no or very limited effect on the adult worms of W. bancrofti.
mesh_terms: D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005368:Filariasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007978:Levamisole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D010919:Placebos; D007978:Levamisole; D008463:Mebendazole; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine