title: Efficacy of albendazole and mebendazole against Hymenolepis microstoma and Hymenolepis diminuta.
abstract: An investigation of the chemotherapeutic effects of 2 anthelmintics, albendazole (ABZ, methyl 5-[propylthio]benzimidazole-2- carbamate) and mebendazole (MBZ, methyl 5-[benzoyl]benzimidazole-2-carbamate), on Hymenolepis microstoma and Hymenolepis diminuta in experimentally infected mice and rats is reported. Single (50 mg/kg) or multiple daily oral doses (50 mg kg-1 day-1 for 3 consecutive days) of MBZ had no effect on H. microstoma; at necropsy, the drug treated mice harbored appreciable numbers of the parasite in the bile duct and biliary passages. ABZ was also inactive when given as a single oral 50 mg/kg dose on day 27 PI. Better results were obtained when ABZ was administered at a dosage of 50 mg kg-1 day-1 for 3 consecutive days; the reduction in worm burden obtained with this treatment regimen was 50%. These results are in marked contrast to those obtained with the same anthelmintics against enteral H. diminuta in rats which succumbed at lower dosages. A review was made of the published reports on the pharmacokinetic behavior of these benzimidazole carbamate anthelmintics and a hypothesis for the inactivity of MBZ against H. microstoma is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis 46202.
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lipkowitz
authors.forename: N O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Dronen
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000469:parasitology; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000469:parasitology; D006925:Hymenolepiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006926:Hymenolepis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D008463:Mebendazole; D015766:Albendazole