title: Comparison of albendazole, mebendazole and praziquantel chemotherapy of Echinococcus multilocularis in a gerbil model.
abstract: The efficacy of albendazole (50 mg/kg/d), mebendazole (50 mg/kg/d) and praziquantel (500 mg/kg/d) against established intraperitoneal infections of Echinococcus multilocularis in gerbils was compared by monitoring parasite weight and making ultrastructural observations on treated and untreated material. Praziquantel was the most active protoscolicidal agent, reducing protoscolex viability to less than 2%, although it did not inhibit cyst growth. Albendazole was the most effective agent in reducing cyst growth and was, when compared with other regimes significantly more effective than mebendazole (p less than 0.05), praziquantel (p less than 0.01) or untreated controls (p less than 0.01).
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Nottingham.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reffin
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D005849:Gerbillinae; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel; D008463:Mebendazole; D015766:Albendazole