title: Isolation, excystation and axenization of Giardia lamblia isolates: in vitro susceptibility to metronidazole and albendazole.
abstract: From 53 samples of human faeces containing Giardia lamblia cysts, 18 isolates were successfully excysted in vitro, and cultivated axenically in TYI-S-33 modified medium. The in vitro effects of metronidazole and albendazole on these isolates were evaluated by the trophozoite adherence inhibition method. The IC50 was between 2.4 and 11.5 micro M for metronidazole and 0.027 and 0.192 micro M for albendazole. These IC50 values were similar to those found for the ATCC 30888 and 30957 reference isolates. All isolates were susceptible to the antiparasitic drugs tested. These results suggest that resistance of G. lamblia to metronidazole and albendazole does not seem to be a significant problem in our population.
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto, Rua João Oliveira Ramos 87, 4000-294 Porto, Portugal. agostinho-cruz@clix.pt
authors.forename: Agostinho
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: M Isaura
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Zaida
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Azeredo
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Figueiredo de Sousa
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabral
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000382:microbiology; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011174:Portugal
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D015766:Albendazole