Evaluation of nitazoxanide and oxfendazole efficacy against cystic echinococcosis in naturally infected sheep.
Cystic echinococosis (CE) is a public health problem caused by Echinococcus granulosus. We aimed to determine the efficacy of nitazoxanide (NTZ) and oxfendazole (OXF) against CE in naturally infected sheep. A total of 151 ewes were assigned to the following groups: 15 mg/kg of NTZ weekly for five weeks (NTZ5); two rounds of 15 mg/ kg of NTZ a day for five days (NTZ5x2) two weeks apart; 30 mg/kg of OXF a week for 11 weeks (OXF11); 30 mg/kg of OXF plus 15 mg/kg of NTZ a week for 11 weeks (OXF/NTZ); and the control group. OXF11 and OXF/NTZ decreased the number of fertile cysts, increased the number of degenerated cysts, and were more efficacious (49.6-61.2%) against lung cysts and liver cysts (91.8-100%) than any other treatment group. OXF might be an additional strategy for control programs and an optional treatment of human CE after it is licensed.
Gavidia
Cesar M
CM
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. cgavidia@jhsph.edu
Gonzalez
Armando E
AE
Lopera
Luis
L
Jayashi
Cesar
C
Angelats
Roxana
R
Barron
Eduardo A
EA
Ninaquispe
Berenice
B
Villarreal
Lucia
L
Garcia
Hector H
HH
Verastegui
Manuela R
MR
Gilman
Robert H
RH
D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004445:Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles; C011030:oxfendazole; C041747:nitazoxanide