Treatment with mebendazole is not associated with distal migration of adult Angiostrongylus costaricensis in the murine experimental infection.
Abdominal angiostrongyliasis is a zoonotic infection produced by a metastrongylid intra-arterial nematode, Angiostrongylus costaricensis. Human accidental infection may result in abdominal lesions and treatment with anti-helminthics is contra-indicated because of potential higher morbidity with excitement or death of worms inside vessels. To evaluate the effect of mebendazole on localization of the worms, male Swiss mice, 5 week-old, were infected with 10 third stage larvae per animal. Twelve infected mice were treated with oral mebendazol, at 5 mg/kg/day, for 5 consecutive days, begining 22 days after inoculation. As control groups, 12 infected but non-treated mice and other 12 non-infected and non-treated mice were studied. The findings at necropsy were, respectively for the treated (T) and control (C) groups: 92% and 80% of the worms were inside the cecal mesenteric arterial branch; 8% and 10% were located inside the aorta. Only in the group C some worms (10%) were found inside the portal vein or splenic artery. These data indicate that treatment with mebendazole does not lead to distal or ectopic migration of A. costaricensis worms.
Mentz
Márcia Bohrer
MB
Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brasil. mbmentz@uol.com.br
Graeff-Teixeira
Carlos
C
Garrido
Cinara Tentardini
CT
D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001011:Aorta / Q000469:parasitology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000469:parasitology; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000469:parasitology; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D008463:Mebendazole