The efficacy of an alternative mebendazole formulation in mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis

Acta Trop. 2019 Aug:196:72-75. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.05.009. Epub 2019 May 11.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of a new formulation of MBZ oily suspension (MBZ-OS) in experimentally Echinococcus multilocularis-infected mice. MBZ-OS was prepared and administered to mice infected with E. multilocularis at 12.5 and 25 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. Then, the cysts were collected, weighed and histologically examined. The results showed that the reduction rate of cyst weight induced by MBZ-OS at two doses was 95.23% and 92.67%, which was significantly higher than that of MBZ-1% tragacanth (positive control) at corresponding concentrations (87.41% and 69.47%), indicating that the treatment of alveolar echinococcosis at lower doses could be achieved by the use of MBZ-OS. This finding shows that MBZ-OS is also a promising formulation for alveolar echinococcosis as well as cystic echinococcosis and deserves to be investigated in clinical applications against echinococcosis.

Keywords: Alveolar echinococcosis; Echinococcus multilocularis; Histopathology examination; Mebendazole oily suspension.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antinematodal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antinematodal Agents / chemistry
  • Antinematodal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Compounding
  • Echinococcosis / drug therapy*
  • Echinococcus multilocularis / drug effects*
  • Mebendazole / administration & dosage
  • Mebendazole / chemistry
  • Mebendazole / therapeutic use*
  • Mice

Substances

  • Antinematodal Agents
  • Mebendazole

Supplementary concepts

  • Alveolar echinococcosis