Effects of Allium sativum on IFN-γ and IL4 concentrations in mice with cystic echinococcosis.

The aim of the current investigation was to assess the impacts of methanolic extract of Allium sativum (MEAS) on IL-4 (a cytokine derived from Th2 cells) and IFN-É£ (a cytokine derived from Th1 cells) levels in mice infected with Echinococcus granulosus. Sixty healthy BALB/c female mice were used in this study. Each animal was intraperitoneally injected with 1500 protoscoleces. The infected animals were randomly divided into six groups: albendazole (100 mg/kg), MEAS 10 (10 mg/kg), MEAS 20 (20 mg/kg), MEAS 40 (40 mg/kg), MEAS 80 (80 mg/kg) and control group with no treatment. The studied animals received albendazole and/or MEAS through drinking water for 30 days. Serum IFN-γ concentration significantly increased in the MEAS 20 and 80 groups in comparison to the control, albendazole and MEAS 10 groups (P < 0.05). The serum IL-4 level showed no significant difference between the trial groups. The findings of this study showed that MEAS at 20 and 80 mg/kg concentrations enhanced Th1 cell response in mice with cystic echinococcosis.

Efficacy of novel albendazole salt formulations against secondary cystic echinococcosis in experimentally infected mice.

In this study, we evaluated the efficacy, expressed as a mean weight decrease of the whole echinococcal cyst mass, of novel benzimidazole salt formulations in a murine Echinococcus granulosus infection model. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally infected with protoscoleces of E. granulosus (genotype G1). At 9 months post-infection, treatment with albendazole (ABZ), ricobendazole (RBZ) salt formulations, and RBZ enantiomer salts (R)-(+)-RBZ-Na and (S)-(-)-RBZ-Na formulations were initiated. Drugs were orally applied by gavage at 10 mg kg-1 body weight per day during 30 days. Experimental treatments with benzimidazole sodium salts resulted in a significant reduction of the weight of cysts compared to conventional ABZ treatment, except for the (S)-(-)-RBZ-Na enantiomer formulation. Scanning electron microscopy and histological inspection revealed that treatments impacted not only the structural integrity of the parasite tissue in the germinal layer, but also induced alterations in the laminated layer. Overall, these results demonstrate the improved efficacy of benzimidazole salt formulations compared to conventional ABZ treatment in experimental murine cystic echinococcosis.

Medical treatment for an isolated renal multilocular hydatid cyst in an elderly: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Almost all cases of renal hydatid cysts need surgical intervention for treatment. We report a case of isolated renal hydatid cyst treated successfully only with medical therapy. CASE PRESENTATION: This case is a 79-year-old veterinarian presented with right flank pain, hydatiduria and positive echinococcus granulosus serology. A 70*50 mm cyst with daughter cysts in mid-portion of right kidney on presentation was changed into a 60*40 mm cyst without daughter cysts at last follow-up. Due to patient's refusal of surgery, our patient received medical treatment including praziquantel and albendazole. After completion of first round of treatment, recurrence occurred and the same treatment was repeated. At last, the cyst became inactive and calcified with negative serology and no clinical symptoms under medical treatment. CONCLUSION: The treatment of choice in renal hydatid cyst is surgery; although there are some reports about the efficacy of medical treatments for hydatid cysts but lower rates of recurrence and higher efficacy put surgery in a superior position compared to medical approaches. Our case showed relative success of medical treatment, despite the presence of a large multilocular renal involvement. Thus, medical therapy without surgery can be considered in very particular cases with isolated renal hydatid cysts.

Albendazole-lipid nanocapsules: Optimization, characterization and chemoprophylactic efficacy in mice infected with Echinococcus granulosus.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), which is caused during the metacestode larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, is a life-threatening disease and is very difficult to treat. At present, the FDA-approved antihelmintic drugs are mebendazole (MBZ), albendazole (ABZ) and its principal metabolite ABZ sulfoxide (ABZSO), but as these have a therapeutic efficacy over 50%, underlining the need for new drug delivery systems. The aim of this work was the optimization and characterization of previously developed ABZ lipid nanocapsules (ABZ-LNCs) and evaluate their efficacy in mice infected with E. granulosus. LNCs were prepared by the phase inversion technique and characterized in terms of size, surface charge, drug loading, and in vitro stability followed by an in vivo proof-of-concept using a murine model infected with E. granulosus. Stable particle dispersions with a narrow size distribution and high efficiency of encapsulation (≥90%) were obtained. ABZ-LNCs showed a greater chemoprophylactic efficacy than ABZ suspension administered by the oral route as 4 out of the 10 ABZ-LNCs treated mice did not develop any cysts, whereas the infection progressed in all mice from the ABZ suspension group. Regarding the ultrastructural studies of cysts, mice treated with ABZ-LNCs or ABZ suspension revealed changes in the germinal layer. However, the extent of the damage appeared to be greater after ABZ-LNC administration compared to the suspension treatment. These results suggest that ABZ-LNCs could be a promising novel candidate for ABZ delivery to treat CE.

Albendazole in the treatment of Hymenolepiasis in school children.

Hymenolepiasis is a helminthic and occasionally fatal disease of human imposing heavy economic losses to human society. Present study was aimed to diagnose the school children for the prevalence and control of Hymenolepiasis. A school based cross-sectional analysis of stool samples collected from 188 children aged 06-15 years was carried out (February to June 2016). Two stool samples were collected from each student before diagnosing and after treatment. The samples were fixed in 10% formalin and observed under the light microscope using the methods of direct smear in Lugol's solution, normal saline and flotation techniques. On the basis of drugs accessibility all the H. nana infected children were divided in to 2- groups. Children in group A were treated with albendazole (bendazol) 400mg once orally, group B was treated with albendazole (zentel) 200mg orally. Eggs per gram of faeces were counted in each group before and after treatment. Of the 188 children, current study reveals only 6.08% (n=18/296) infection with H.nana and 10.5% (n=16/151) were diagnosed with co infections. The % efficacy of albendazole (Zentel) and albendazole (bendazol) against Hymenolepis nana infection was reported as 83% and 75% respectively. Present study was concluded that albendazole (zentel) is the drug of choice for the treatment of hymenolepiasis in children.

Immune reactivity in early life stages of sea-cage cultured Pacific bluefin tuna naturally infected with blood flukes from genus Cardicola (Trematoda: Aporocotylidae).

Pacific bluefin tuna (PBT), Thunnus orientalis, due to its high average price on the market is an economically valuable fish species. Infections by blood flukes from the genus Cardicola (Trematoda: Aporocotylidae) represent a growing concern for the cage culture of bluefin tuna in Japan, Australia and Southern Europe. The accumulation of numerous Cardicola eggs in the fish gills causes severe pathology that has been linked to mortality in PBT juveniles up to one year old. The only effective treatment used to mitigate the infection is the oral administration of the antihelminthic drug praziquantel (PZQ) to the affected fish. However, with the need to minimise therapeutic drug use in aquaculture it is hoped that immunoprophylaxis can provide a future alternative to protect the PBT juveniles against Cardicola infection. Currently, little is known of the host immune response to these parasites and of their infection dynamics. In this study, using real-time qPCR we aimed to quantitatively detect C. orientalis and C. opisthorchis DNA within the gills and heart of cultured PBT juveniles and to investigate the host immune response at the transcriptional level in the gills. The research focused mainly during early stages of infection soon after young PBT were transferred to culture cages (from 14 to 77 days post-transfer). An increase (up to 11-fold) of immune-related genes, namely IgM, MHC-I, TCR-ß and IL-1ß was observed in the PBT gills infected with Cardicola spp. (28-77 days post-transfer). Furthermore, IgM (19-fold increase) and MHC-I (11.5-fold increase) transcription was strongly up-regulated in gill samples of PBT infected with C. orientalis relative to uninfected fish but not in fish infected with C. opisthorchis. Cardicola-specific DNA was first detected in the host 14 days post-transfer (DPT) to sea-cages which was 55 days earlier than the first detection of parasite eggs and adults by microscopy. Oral administration of PZQ did not have an immediate effect on parasite DNA presence in the host and the DNA presence started to reduce after 24 days only in the host heart. The results provide evidence of an immune response in early age sea-cage cultured juveniles of PBT naturally infected with C. orientalis and C. opisthorchis. This response, whilst not protective against primary infection, provides evidence that immunisation at an early age may have potential as a health strategy.

Efficacy of a topical combination of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel (Broadline(®)) against naturally acquired infections with cestodes of the genus Joyeuxiella in cats.

Cats are host to dipylidiid cestodes of the genera Diplopylidium, Dipylidium and Joyeuxiella. Broadline(®), a topical broad-spectrum combination parasiticide containing fipronil (8.3 % w/v), (S)-methoprene (10 % w/v), eprinomectin (0.4 % w/v) and the cestocide praziquantel (8.3 % w/v), has previously been shown to be efficacious against Dipylidium caninum and Diplopylidium spp. in cats. To evaluate its efficacy against Joyeuxiella species, a blinded clinical efficacy study was conducted according to GCP. All cats had evidence for naturally acquired dipylidiid cestode infection as confirmed by pre-treatment examination. Cats were allocated randomly to two groups of 13 cats each based on bodyweight: Control (untreated) and Broadline(®) at 0.12 mL/kg bodyweight administered once topically. Based on the comparison of helminth counts in the treated and untreated cats seven days post treatment, Broadline(®) demonstrated >99 % efficacy (p < 0.01) against mature J. fuhrmanni and J. pasqualei, with 11 and 13 of the untreated cats harbouring 1 to 102 or 2 to 95 cestodes, respectively. In addition, parasite counts indicated 95.9 % efficacy (p = 0.006) against the rictularoid nematode Pterygodermatites cahirensis.

Neurocysticercosis presenting as a 'Stroke Mimic'.

A 62 year old Nepalese gentleman presented with left sided weakness and sensory loss. Initial brain CT scanning was suggestive of acute infarction but a subsequent MRI scan showed cysts with oedema. Cysticercosis serology was positive and a diagnosis of neurocysticercosis was made. The patient made almost a complete recovery after treatment with albendazole, praziquantel and steroids. Neurocysticercosis should be considered in the diffierential diagnosis when patients originating from endemic areas present with focal neurological deficit.

Effects of albendazole nanoparticles in mice with hepatic echinococosis: Portal vein cannulation versus intravenous administration.

To compare the ABZ and its metabolites concentration in cyst tissue of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis administered by different routes, forty male Wistar rats receiving albendazole nanoparticles from tail vein and portal vein were divided into two groups, the concentration of ABZ and its metabolites ABZSO, ABZSO2, in the cyst tissue, were analyzed by HPLC at 2, 4, 8, 24, 36 h after administration. The parent drug and its metabolites were detected in plasm and the cyst tissue after portal cannulation and intravenous administration. The last results were the concentration of ABZ in the portal cannulation group was higher than in the intravenous group at every time point (p < 0.05). Compared to the intravenous group, the portal cannulation administration of ABZ led to a lower plasm concentration of ABZ. The concentration of ABZ and the active ABZSO were significantly higher in the portal cannulation group than that of the intravenous group.

In vivo anthelmintic activity of Carex baccans and its active principle resveratrol against Hymenolepis diminuta.

Anthelmintic resistance against most of the commercial drugs is a great threat to humans as well as the veterinary live stocks. Hence, new treatment strategies to control helminth infections are essential at this hour. Carex baccans Nees has been traditionally used by Jaintia tribes in Northeast India to get rid of intestinal worm infections. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate in vivo cestocidal activity of root tuber extract of C. baccans and its active component resveratrol against the zoonotic cestode Hymenolepis diminuta in the experimental model rat. The cestocidal activity was determined by monitoring the eggs per gram (EPG) counts in faeces of different treated groups. The result showed that the highest dose of the plant extract (50 mg/kg) and resveratrol (4.564 mg/kg body weight) has significant anthelmintic efficacy against H. diminuta. Crude extract of the plant as well as resveratrol reduced EPG count (56.012 and 46.049 %) and also resulted in decreased worm burden by 44.287 and 31.034 %, respectively. The efficacy of the crude extract and resveratrol can be compared to the reference drug praziquantel. The results exhibits considerable cestocidal potential of root tuber crude extract of C. baccans and resveratrol and justify its folklore use.

[A rare case of Hymenolepis diminuta infection in a small child]. / Nadir bir olgu olarak küçük bir çocukta Hymenolepis diminuta enfeksiyonu.

Unlike Hymenolepis nana that transmits directly from person to person, the transmission of Hymenolepis diminuta to human is via accidentally ingesting of arthropods carrying cysticercoid larvae as intermediate host. In places with poor hygienic conditions, this cestod may cause seldom infections especially in children. Studies carried out on various populations have reported the prevalence rate of H.diminuta between 0.001% and 5.5%. Although the reported cases are mostly children, the disease can be seen in every age group. In this report, a pediatric case of H.diminuta infection is presented. A twenty one-month-old male patient with the symptoms of vomiting 3-4 times a day along with mud-like diarrhea continuing for a week was admitted to the pediatric outpatient clinic. According to the history, it was learned that the house where he lived was above a barn and there was a history of insect swallowing. Laboratory findings revealed iron-deficiency anemia. The macroscopic appearance of the stool was in a pale clay-like form, and by direct microscopic examination with lugol solution, 70-75 µm in diameter, thick-shelled and six central hookleted eggs that are characteristic for H.diminuta were identified. A six-day course of oral niclosamide was administered to the patient beginning with 500 mg on the first day and 250 mg on the following five days, together with the treatment for the iron deficiency anemia. After fifteen days, the oral niclosamide treatment was repeated. No H.diminuta eggs were detected in the parasitological examination performed one month after completion of the second round of treatment. This case has been presented to call attention to the importance of patient anamnesis and microscopic examination in the diagnosis of H.diminuta infection which is a rarely seen parasitosis.

Historic of therapeutic efficacy of albendazol sulphoxide administered in different routes, dosages and treatment schemes, against Taenia saginata cysticercus in cattle experimentally infected.

The present study aimed to notify the history of albendazole sulphoxide (ALB-SO) and albendazole (ALBZ) efficacy against Taenia saginata cysticercus (Cysticercus bovis) parasitizing experimentally infected bovines. A total of 11 efficacy trials were performed between the years of 2002 and 2010. In order to perform these trials, animals were individually inoculated with 2×10(4) eggs of T. saginata in each study's day zero (D0). For every trial, a positive control group (untreated infected animals) and a negative control group (animals that were neither infected nor treated) were used. ALB-SO or ALB were administered in the different dosages, in different days of treatments. In a last study with this formulation, this active principle was administered orally, mixed with the mineral supplement, on the 60th DPI, in a dosage of 30mg/kg. In all trials, on the 100th DPI, all animals were euthanized and submitted to the sequenced slicing of 26 anatomical segments (fragments of approximately five millimeters) for the survey of T. saginata cysticercus. With the obtained results it is possible to verify that in the first trials, conducted in 2002, ALB-SO reached, independently of dosage and treatment scheme, efficacies superior to 98% (arithmetic means). The trials conducted in 2005 (2.5mg/kg on the 30th, 60th, and 90th DPI) obtained values of efficacy all inferior to 60%. In 2008, the trials with 2.5 and 7.7mg/kg demonstrated efficacy values inferior to 40%, for both dosages and treatment schemes (30th/60th/90th DPI and 60th DPI). When this formulation was administered orally on the dosage of 30mg/kg on the 60th DPI, the efficacy against T. saginata cysticercus reached 88.28%. ALB administered orally showed efficacy values of 0.0%, 29.88% and 28.64% in the dosages of 5, 10 and 15mg/kg, respectively, using the treatment schemes described above for each dosage. Based on the results of these trials, conducted in an eight year period (2002-2010) using the sequenced slicing method for evaluating the efficacy of the aforementioned formulations against T. saginata cysticercus, it is possible to observe that, amongst the few molecules used in the chemotherapic treatment against T. saginata larvae, ALB-SO, administered in varied routes, dosages and treatment schemes, the studies conducted in 2008, 2009, and 2010, have a low therapeutic efficacy against C. bovis in Brazil, while ALBZ had insignificant efficacy values against T. saginata larvae parasitizing experimentally infected bovines. However, future studies using molecular biology will be necessary to assess whether the difference on the efficacy of the ALB-SO can be related to strain or another specific factor.

In vitro and in vivo activities of dicationic diguanidino compounds against Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a disease predominantly affecting the liver, with metacestodes (larvae) of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis proliferating and exhibiting tumor-like infiltrative growth. For many years, chemotherapeutical treatment against alveolar echinococcosis has relied on the benzimidazoles albendazole and mebendazole, which require long treatment durations and exhibit parasitostatic rather than parasiticidal efficacy. Although benzimidazoles have been and still are beneficial for the patients, there is clearly a demand for alternative and more efficient treatment options. Aromatic dications, more precisely a small panel of di-N-aryl-diguanidino compounds, were screened for efficacy against E. multilocularis metacestodes in vitro. Only those with a thiophene core group were active against metacestodes, while furans were not. The most active compound, DB1127, was further investigated in terms of in vivo efficacy in mice experimentally infected with E. multilocularis metacestodes. This diguanidino compound was effective against AE when administered intraperitoneally but not when applied orally. Thus, thiophene-diguanidino derivatives with improved bioavailability when administered orally could lead to treatment options against AE.

Hydatid cyst of the thyroid gland: report of three cases.

Cystic Echinococcosis is a parasitic infestation that is distributed world-wide. It may be found in nearly any part of the body, most often in the liver and the lungs, but occasionally in other structures such as the thyroid gland. The present study reports three cases of hydatid cysts of the thyroid gland, in patient ranging from 18 to 25 years of age. Two patients had concomitant hydatid disease involving organs other than the thyroid gland (secondary disease), and one had, sole, involvement of the thyroid gland itself (primary disease). Moreover, an occult papillary thyroid carcinoma was detected incidentally in one case, involving the unilateral thyroid lobe as the hydatid cyst. While several surgical procedures including left lobectomy and isthmectomy were undertaken in one patient, two patients underwent total thyroidectomy. No disease recurrence was observed in any of the three patients during the postoperative follow-up period. No study reporting the concomitance of hydatid cyst and neoplasia of the thyroid gland has been previously published. This concomitance indicates the importance of the differential diagnosis of lesions characterized by calcifications in the thyroid gland, especially in endemic regions.

Albendazole associated to surgery or minimally invasive procedures for hydatid disease--how much and how long.

Cystic echinococcosis is parasitic disease due to the larval stage of the metacestode Echinococcus granulosus in the liver (80%), lungs, kidneys, spleen, myocardium etc. Humans are accidental intermediate hosts. Diagnosis is based on laboratory and imaging studies. Treatment is multimodal, surgical and medical. Risks for dangerous complications and relapses are quite common. Adequate follow-up is needed. Albendazole has a central role in the medical therapy of the disease.

Comparative performances of flubendazole and albendazole in cystic echinococcosis: ex vivo activity, plasma/cyst disposition, and efficacy in infected mice.

The need to identify improved therapy against cystic echinococcosis (CE) has motivated pharmacology-based research. The comparative pharmacological performances of the benzimidazole compounds flubendazole (FLBZ) and albendazole (ABZ) were addressed here. The goals of the work were as follows: (i) to evaluate the ex vivo activities of FLBZ, ABZ, and their respective metabolites against Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces, (ii) to compare the plasma and cyst disposition kinetics for the two drugs in infected mice, and (iii) to compare the clinical efficacies of FLBZ and ABZ against CE in mice. For the ex vivo study, E. granulosus protoscoleces were incubated with FLBZ, reduced FLBZ (R-FLBZ), ABZ, and ABZ-sulfoxide (ABZSO) (10 nmol/ml). Protoscolex viability was monitored by the methylene blue exclusion test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the pharmacokinetic study, BALB/c mice with CE were allocated to two different groups and orally treated with either FLBZ or ABZ (5 mg/kg of body weight), both formulated as a cyclodextrin-based solution. Blood and cyst samples were taken up to 12 h posttreatment and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For the efficacy study, CE-infected BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: the unmedicated control group and the FLBZ- and ABZ-treated groups. Oral treatments were performed twice a day during 25 days. After treatment, all animals were killed and the weight of the cysts was recorded. Loss of protoscolex viability was observed after drug incubation. FLBZ was detected in plasma (area under the concentration-versus-time curve [AUC] = 1.8 µg · h/ml) and cysts (AUC = 0.3 µg · h/g) collected from treated infected animals. Conversely, ABZSO was the only active molecule measured in plasma (AUC = 4.4 µg·h/ml) and cysts (AUC = 1.5 µg·h/g) after ABZ treatment. FLBZ induced a 90% reduction in cyst weight in comparison to those collected from untreated control mice (P < 0.05). However, no differences in cyst weight were observed between the ABZ-treated (8.2 g) and unmedicated control (10.5 g) groups. Due to these results, we consider flubendazole to have great potential to become a drug of choice in the treatment of cystic echinococcosis.

Hydatid brain cyst: A delayed diagnosis in a rural setting during COVID-19.

A previously healthy 10-year-old girl, living in a sheep-farming community in South Africa with exposure to dogs, presented to her local hospital with generalised tonic-clonic seizures. The initial clinical assessment and laboratory work-up were unremarkable. When she presented with further seizures 6 months later, attempts to arrange neuroimaging and specialist assessment were unsuccessful owing to restrictions on routine healthcare services during the SARS-CoV-2 nationwide lockdown. Subsequently, 11 months after her first presentation, she developed focal neurological signs suggestive of raised intracranial pressure. A brain computed tomography scan revealed a left-sided cerebral cyst and imminent tonsillar herniation. An emergency burr-hole procedure was performed to relieve the raised intracranial pressure, followed by definitive neurosurgical excision of cysts. Hydatid protoscolices and hooklets were seen on microscopy of cyst fluid, and treatment with albendazole and praziquantel was initiated. While her infection was treated successfully, long-term sequelae including permanent blindness and hemiparesis could potentially have been prevented with early neuroimaging and surgical intervention.

Combined medical and surgical treatment of intracardiac hydatid cysts in 11 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Echinococcosis is a human parasitic disease common in sheep-rearing regions, which is caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granolosus and can involve any heart region. We report 11 cases of cardiac hydatidosis who were treated medically and surgically. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven patients diagnosed with cardiac echinococcosis were referred to the Cardiac Surgery Department of Shahid Madani Hospital from 1992 to 2004. Symptoms included dyspnea, palpitation, limb ischemia, fever, weight loss, hemiplegia, and loss of consciousness. Patients underwent surgical removal of the cyst followed by medical treatment until the titer of echinococcus hemaglutination test came to normal. RESULTS: Hospital stay and recovery time were uneventful in nine patients. One patient died due to acute renal failure before hospital discharge (9%) and another patient experienced cerebral hydatidosis 12 months after surgery (probably due to cyst embolism). The other nine patients had no complications during five years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision using cardiopulmonary bypass combined with medical therapy provides the most optimal treatment for cardiac echinococcosis.

Three day albendazole therapy in patients with a solitary cysticercus granuloma: a randomized double blind placebo controlled study.

A solitary cysticercus granuloma is a benign form of neurocysticercosis. Several reports have suggested albendazole is effective in early resolution of these lesions. A short duration (7 days) albendazole therapy has been found to be effective in treatment. In this study, we evaluated a "three day course" of albendazole in a prospective randomized double- blind trial. Sixty-seven consecutive patients who presented with new-onset seizures and a solitary cysticercus granuloma were randomly allocated to receive either albendazole (15 mg/kg/day for 3 days) or placebo. All patients were treated with antiepileptic drugs. Patients were followed up for 6 months. A repeat CT of the brain was obtained at the end of 6 months of follow-up. The end points were complete resolution of the lesion on CT scan and total seizure control at 6 months follow-up. In the albendazole group complete resolution of lesions was noted in 28 of 33 patients (84.8%), while in the control group only 14 of 34 patients (41.2%) had complete resolution of the lesion (p = 0.001). Partial resolution of lesion was seen in 2 patients (6%) in the albendazole group and 4 patients (11.8%) in the control group (p = 0.06). The lesion remained unchanged in 9 cases (26.5%) in the control group only. The lesion became calcified in 7 (20.6%) and 3 (9.1%) patients in the control and albendazole groups, respectively (p = 0.187). Seizure recurrence occurred in 3 patients (9.1%) in the albendazole and 1 patient (2.9%) in the control group (p = 0.239). The three days course of albendazole was effective in resolving lesions, but there was no significant difference in seizure recurrence rates between the two treatment groups.