title: Ultrastructural changes to the tegumental system and gastrodermal cells of adult Fasciola hepatica following treatment in vivo with a commercial preparation of myrrh (Mirazid).
abstract: An in vivo study in the laboratory rat model has been carried out to monitor changes to the tegument and gut of adult Fasciola hepatica following treatment with myrrh ('Mirazid'). Rats infected with the triclabendazole-resistant Dutch isolate were dosed orally with Mirazid at a concentration of 250 mg/kg and flukes recovered 2, 3 and 7 days post-treatment (pt). The flukes were processed for examination by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. A variety of changes to the external surface were observed, culminating in the sloughing of the tegumental syncytium. Internal changes to the syncytium and tegumental cell bodies were more severe and were evident from 2 days pt onwards. Swelling of the basal infolds (leading to flooding of the surface layer) and a decline in secretory body production were the major changes seen. The gastrodermal cells were less severely affected than the tegument, pointing to a trans-tegumental route of uptake for Mirazid by the fluke. Some loss of muscle fibres in the main somatic muscle layers was observed, which may be correlated with the decline in movement of flukes seen at recovery.
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department,Faculty of Science,Al-Azhar University,Nasr City,Cairo,Egypt.
authors.forename: M M O
authors.initials: MMO
authors.lastname: Abdelaal
authors.affiliation: Parasite Therapeutics Research Group,School of Biological Sciences,Medical Biology Centre,The Queen's University of Belfast,97 Lisburn Road,Belfast BT9 7BL,Northern Ireland,UK.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department,Faculty of Science,Al-Azhar University,Nasr City,Cairo,Egypt.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziz
authors.affiliation: Parasite Therapeutics Research Group,School of Biological Sciences,Medical Biology Centre,The Queen's University of Belfast,97 Lisburn Road,Belfast BT9 7BL,Northern Ireland,UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fairweather
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D029744:Commiphora; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D012116:Resins, Plant; C587573:myrrh resin