Histochemical studies in vitro and in vivo on Fasciola Worms under the effect of bithionol and praziquantel

Abstract

Human fascioliasis has become a world wide problem. liuman infection is caused by ingestion of infective matacercariae on vegetables as salads and rarely by ingestion of the free cysts in water.

Bithionol was•considered the drug of choice for the treatment of acute and chronic human fascioliasis. Praziquantel was reported to have a broad antiparasitic action particularly on trematodes and cestodes, however reports on its action on f"asciola worms were controversial.

The aim of the present work was to study the effect of bithionol and praziquantel in vivo and in vitro on f"asciola gigantica worms, juvenile and mature, using histological and histochemical techniques.

Juvenile and mature f"asciola worms were obtained from rabbits infected with 30 f"asciola metacercariae after 65 and 85 days post infection. In vivo, rabbits were treated either with bithionol in dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. every other day, for five doses or with praziquantel in a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight. every day for five doses. In vitro, f"asciola Worms were incubated in balanced saline either with 20,50,100 1-!g/ml bithionol or 100, 200,500 1-1g/ml praziquantel and were examined after one, two, six and eighteen hours after incubation.