Biochemical and pathological evaluation of albendazole/thalidomide co-therapy against eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis induced by Angiostrongylus cantonensis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the curative effect of albendazole/thalidomide co-therapy on eosinophilic meningitis in BALB/c mice caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis.


METHODS
Male mice were infected with 50 A. cantonensis larvae and treated with albendazole (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg per day) alone, thalidomide (25, 50 or 100 mg/kg per day) alone, or a combination of albendazole (10 mg/kg per day) and thalidomide (50 mg/kg per day) for 7 consecutive days on days 5, 10 and 15 post-inoculation (PI), respectively.


RESULTS
Indicators used to measure this effect included: (i) worm recovery; (ii) histopathological score of meningitis; (iii) eosinophil counts; (iv) level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-5; (v) activity of enzymes, such as tissue-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase-9; and (vi) CSF/serum albumin ratio. The results showed that albendazole/thalidomide co-therapy significantly decreased (P < 0.05) these factors when treatment was initiated on days 5 or 10 PI compared with treatment initiated on day 15 PI.


CONCLUSIONS
The timing of medication use is important and is closely related to the anthelmintic efficacy of a drug. For a given dosage, earlier medication use is more effective. This novel approach to treating parasitic meningitis may suggest other new methods of treatment.
Chen
Ke-Min
KM
Department of Parasitology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
Lai
Shih-Chan
SC
D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013792:Thalidomide; D015766:Albendazole