title: Synergistic effects of fenbendazole and metronidazole against Giardia muris in Swiss mice naturally infected.
abstract: In this study were proposed different protocols for the treatment of mice naturally infected with Giardia muris. Male Swiss mice were divided into seven groups, with five animals each, in a blind, controlled, randomized by drawing lots and once-repeated experiment. Parasite detection and cure control were performed using the Faust method and search by trophozoites in the intestinal mucosa. Clinical parameters (weight, water and feed consumption, elimination of excreta, aspect of the fur and feces) were also evaluated. All animals were treated with metronidazole (M), fenbendazole (F), and probiotics (P), administered intragastrically, during 7 days. M1, FM1, and F1 groups were treated 1×/day; M3, FM3, and PM3 groups 3×/day; and ST (control group) received only water. After the 5th and 7th days of treatment, the animals in FM1/FM3 and PM3/M3 groups presented, respectively, negative results and remained negative in the following 10 days. Animals in F1 group consumed less water (p = 0.00010) compared with FM1/FM3/PM3. The animals in M1 group compared with FM3/M3, F1 compared with M3, and ST compared with FM1/FM3/M3/PM3 consumed a larger amount of feed (p = 0.00001). The animals in F1 group compared with FM3/M1/M3/PM3, FM1 compared with FM3, and ST compared with FM3/M1/M3/PM3 eliminated lower volume of excreta (p = 0.00001). The results show that the association between F and M potentiates the effects, indicating a synergistic action of these two drugs, and FM1 is the best protocol due to early negativity in the animals, lower concentrations of the drugs, lower risk of toxicity and stress, and less alterations in clinical parameters.
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. renata_coltro@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Renata Coltro
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bezagio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (DBS), Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo 5790 CEP 87020-900, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Colli
authors.affiliation: UEM, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Liara Izabela Lopes
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Romera
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, UEM, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Érika Cristina
authors.initials: ÉC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (DBS), Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo 5790 CEP 87020-900, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Falavigna-Guilherme
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (DBS), Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo 5790 CEP 87020-900, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mônica Lúcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005273:Fenbendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005872:Giardia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D053058:Trophozoites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D005273:Fenbendazole
keywords: Drug synergism; Fenbendazole; Giardiasis; Metronidazole; Mice; Probiotics