Punica granatum and amygdalin extracts plus cobalamin combined with albendazole reduce larval burden and myositis in experimental trichinosis / Extratos de Punica granatum e amígdalina mais cobalamina combinado com albendazol reduzem a carga larvar e a miosite na triquinose experimental

Abstract Trichinellosis is a zoonosis results from eating raw or semi-cooked meat of infected animals. Medicinal plants have been used lately as alternatives and/or combined therapies to resolve some drawbacks of the current regimens. This work analyzed the effect of albendazole monotherapy on Trichinella spiralis experimental infection (group A), in comparison to P. granatum and amygdalin extracts +cobalamin (group B), plus its combination with albendazole (group C). The study revealed that the extracts alone or combined with albendazole had an inferior effect to albendazole monotherapy regarding number of adult worms (40.83 ±3.82, 18.67 ±1.86 and 16.83 ±2.32, respectively). However, their effect was more obvious in muscle phase combined with albendazole, achieving the lower number of larvae/mL tissue homogenate (22.33 ±3.27 in comparison to 39.67 ±2.58 achieved by albendazole monotherapy). The extracts exerted a significant immunomodulatory effect by reducing the local CD4+ expression in the intestine as well as in muscle phase (1.15 ±0.25 and 3.80 ±0.65 in comparison to 4.97 ±0.37 and 12.20 ±0.87 with albendazole monotherapy, respectively). So, these extracts improved the therapeutic efficacy of albendazole, specifically in muscle phase and counteracted the inflammatory reaction caused by albendazole monotherapy, thus extensively alleviating the resulting myositis.

Resumo Trichinellosis é uma zoonose resultante da ingestão de carne crua ou semicozida de animais infectados. As plantas medicinais têm sido usadas, ultimamente, como alternativas e/ou terapias combinadas, para resolver algumas desvantagens dos regimes atuais. Este trabalho analisou o efeito da monoterapia albendazole na infecção experimental por Trichinella spiralis (grupo A), em comparação com extratos de P. granatum e amígdalina +cobalamina (grupo B), além de sua combinação com albendazol (grupo C). O estudo revelou que os extratos sozinho ou combinado com albendazol teve efeito inferior à monoterapia albendazol em relação ao número de vermes adultos (40,83 ±3,82, 18,67 ±1,86 e 16,83 ±2,32, respectivamente). No entanto, seu efeito foi mais óbvio na fase muscular combinado com o albendazol, alcançando o menor número de larvas/mL homogeneizado de tecido (22,33 ±3,27 em comparação com 39,67 ±2,58 obtidos pela monoterapia albendazol). Os extratos exerceram um efeito imunomodulatório significativo, ao reduzir a expressão local CD4+ no intestino, bem como na fase muscular (1,15 ±0,25 e 3,80 ±0,65 em comparação com 4,97 ±0,37 e 12,20 ±0,87 com monoterapia albendazol, respectivamente). Assim, esses extratos melhoraram a eficácia terapêutica do albendazol, especificamente na fase muscular e neutralizaram a reação inflamatória causada pela monoterapia albendazol, aliviando extensivamente a miosite resultante.

Therapeutic Potential of Myrrh and Ivermectin against Experimental Trichinella spiralis Infection in Mice

Trichinosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by the nematode Trichinella spiralis. Anthelmintics are used to eliminate intestinal adults as well as tissue-migrating and encysted larvae. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ivermectin and myrrh obtained from the aloe-gum resin of Commiphora molmol on experimental trichinosis. Ninety albino mice were orally infected with 300 T. spiralis larvae. Drugs were tested against adult worms at day 0 and day 5 and against encysted larvae on day 15 and day 35 post-infection (PI). Mature worms and encysted larvae were counted in addition to histopathological examination of muscle specimens. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, and creatinine values were estimated. Significant reductions in mean worm numbers were detected in ivermectin treated mice at day 0 and day 5 PI achieving efficacies of 98.5% and 80.0%, while efficacies of myrrh in treated mice were 80.7% and 51.5%, respectively. At days 15 and 35 post-infection, ivermectin induced significant reduction in encysted larval counts achieving efficacies of 76.5% and 54.0%, respectively, while myrrh efficacies were 76.6% and 35.0%, respectively. AST, ALT, urea, and creatinine levels were reduced, while total proteins were increased in response to both treatments compared to their values in the infected non-treated mice. Ivermectin use for controlling T. spiralis could be continued. Myrrh was effective and could be a promising drug against the Egyptian strains of T. spiralis with results nearly comparable to ivermectin.

First record of human trichinosis in Chile associated with consumption of wild boar (Sus scrofa)

The first South American case of human trichinosis, resulting from the consumption of roast wild boar (Sus scrofa) is reported in Chile. The patient presented fever, diarrhea, myalgias, facial edema, sub-conjunctival reddening, photophobia, eosinophilia, and elevated glutamic oxalacetic transaminase. The diagnosis was confirmed by two immunoenzymatic tests (ELISA) using somatic and excretion-secretion antigens.

Efficacy of albendazole against early and late stage of Trichinella spiralis infection in mice.

Efficacy of albendazole against early and late stage of Trichinella spiralis infection in mice was determined. To determine the efficacy of albendazole against the early stage (enteral phase) of trichinosis, mice experimentally infected with T. spiralis were treated with albendazole 20 mg/kg at 7 days post infection for 15 days. Larvae were recovered from the infected mice 7 days after the treatment. The reduction rate of the larvae was 100 per cent. Efficacy of albendazole against the late stage (parenteral phase) of infection was determined at 30 days post infection. Mice were treated with albendazole at 20 mg/kg for 30 days. Larvae were recovered from the infected mice 7 days after the treatment. The reduction rate of the larvae was 71 per cent compared to the control group. In conclusion, albendazole was more effective in the early stage of infection than the late stage, the reduction was 100 per cent and 71 per cent with respect to the control group respectively.

Evaluation of albendazole prodrugs in experimental trichinellosis

Background. Two albendazole (ABZ) prodrugs, N-methoxycarbonyl-N'-[(2-nitro-4-propylthio) phenyl] thiourea (compound 2), and N-methoxycarbonyl-N'-[2-nitro-5-propylthio) phenyl] thiourea (compound 3) have recently been synthesized. These compounds showed greater solubility than ABZ itself. Methods. In order to evaluate the biotransformation of compounds 2 and 3 to ABZ and/or ABZ-sulphoxide (ABZ-SO), plasma samples taken from mice treated with the prodrugs were analyzed by HPLC. Also, the anthelmintic activity of compounds 2 and 3 against Trichinella spiralis was evaluated in mice experimentally infected with the prarasite. Results. The presence of ABZ and/or ABZ-SO was demostrated in plasma samples taken at different time intervals after prodrug administration, although their levels were low compared to those reached in mice treated with ABZ. Additionally, prodrugs 2 and 3 were also detected in these samples. In regrad to the anthelmintic activity of ABZ prodrugs, it was shown that compound 3 was more active than compound 2. Additionally, it was as effective as ABZ against T. spiralis pre-adult, adult, and female fecundity. However, compound 3 was not as active sa ABZ against the muscle stage of the parasite. Conclusions. Compound 3 had better anthelmintic activity againts T. spiralis than compound 2. The bioconversion of compounds 2 and 3 to ABZ and/or ABZ-SO was demostrated by HPLC, but they did not reach equivalant concentrarion to that of ABZ. Prodrugs 2 and 3 were also present in plasma samples, suggesting that prodrugs were not efficiently reduced in the intestine of mice

Triquinosis: importancia del caso índice / Trichinosis: importance of the index case

Se reporta el caso de un paciente varón de 28 años, previamente sano, proveniente de Curicó, que tras haber ingerido carne de cerdo faenado en domicilio, inició un cuadro clínico y exámenes de laboratorio altamente sugerentes triquinosis. Se notificó de inmediato a la sección de Epidemiología del ministerio de Salud, con lo que se logró precozmente encontrar al resto de los afectados y decomisar la carne contaminada para evitar nuevos casos, destacando de esta forma la importancia del caso índice. Posteriormente se apoyó el diagnóstico con test de ELISA para trichinella spiralis, y se inició el tratamiento anti parasitario con albendazol y sintomático, con lo cual el paciente evolucionó satisfactoriamente. Se destaca la importancia del diagnóstico precoz y de la oportuna notificación a las autoridades sanitarias cuando se tiene un cuadro clínico compatible, y exámenes de laboratorio generales, como hemograma y los niveles de CPK alterados, aun cuando no se disponga de exámenes serológicos específicos, como ELISA para triquinosis

Anti-nematode activity of sixteen compounds against Trichinella spiralis in mice--a possible new screen for macrofilaricides.

There are few small animals models for filariasis, even more so for onchocerciasis. Therefore it is difficult to test under drug screening conditions large numbers of potentially macrofilaricidal compounds. One way around this difficulty is to use mice infected with Trichinella spiralis which by reason of anatomical location in the host would show some correlation in antinematode activity between the test and target organisms. This study investigated the activity of 16 compounds against the immature larval stage of T. spiralis. All the nine benzimidazole compounds (albendazole, flubendazole, mebendazole, oxfendazole, oxibendazole 780118, 780120, 790163, and 790392) were active, the most potent being oxfendazole. The benzothiazoles (CGP21306, CGP20376, CGP21833 and CGP24588A) also indicated some anti-nematode activity together with 35vr, an imidazopyridine, but not as marked as the benzimidazole group. However, the organic arsenical compounds (Mel Ga and Mel Ni) showed little activity and this was at a rather highly toxic level. The prospects of using the Trichinella-mouse model as a primary screen to test for potential macrofilaricides are discussed.

effect of flubendazole on the course of trichinella spiralis infection in mice: parasitological study

This work aimed to study the effect of flubendazole against different stages of Trichinella spiralis infection in mice. Three groups of experimental animals were examined: Control group, group I [treated 3 days post-infection] and group II [treated 4 weeks post- infection]. In group I, flubendazole was shown to be a very potent agent in killing Trichinella spiralis adults and larvae, when given orally in a dose of 20 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days. This is evidenced by the significant reduction in number, length of the female and reproductive capacity as well as the absence of the muscle larvae. However, in group II, the effect of the drug although still significant yet diminished in all parameters as compared with the early treatment. These results evoked ideas for further design of other treatment and control of disease

Triquinosis esporádica / Sporadic trichnosis

En el presente trabajo se analizan retrospectivamente las características clínicas y de laboratorio detectadas en 13 casos de triquinosis aguda esporádica, estudiados en el Instituto Nacional de Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán" (INNSZ) de 1977 a 1986. El número de casos por año fue de uno a dos con aumento a cinco en 1986; ningún paciente mostró correlación entre el tipo de dieta o sitio específico en la ciudad. La sintomatología fue similar a la descrita para la forma epidémica; en 69.1 por ciento de los casos se sospechó el diagnóstico en base clínicas y el 84.6 por ciento mostró eosinofilia. El motivo de la biópsia muscular fueron los síntomas musculares (92.3%) y corroboró la parasitosis en el 100 por ciento de los pacientes. El tratamiento fue tiabendazol y/o prednisona con mejoría en la mayoría de los pacientes durante su seguimiento (x: 7 meses). Se discute la utilidad de la biopsia muscular, las posibilidades de tratamiento y se enfatiza en los síntomas, signos y hallazgos de laboratorio de la triquinosis esporádica para sospechar dicha zoonosis ante un cuadro clínico de enfermedad inflamatoria multisistémica con síntomas musculares predominantes

Complicaciones del sistema nervioso central en triquinosis / Central nervous system complications in trichinosis

Se presentaron dos pacientes de 9 y 11 años de edad, con cuadros clínicos similares consistentes en un síndrome febril de causa inaparente, edema palpebral, mialgias y compromiso encefálico importante. El hemograma demostró una eosinofilia marcada y el estudio del líquido cefalorraquídeo fue normal. En ambos la biopsia muscular confirmó el diagnóstico de triquinosis. Tratados con tiabendazol y corticoides, hacen una evolución favorable con regresión de la sintomatología

Análisis clínico de 46 pacientes con triquinosis / A clinical analysis of 46 patients with trichinellosis

Se hace un análisis de los aspectos clínicos de 46 pacientes con triquinosis, hospitalizados en un Servicio de Medicina de adultos y en un lapso de 13 años (1972-1984). Se destaca que las complicaciones más temidas y graves son el compromiso del SNC y del corazón. Se discute y actualiza el tratamiento

Triguinosis / Trichinosis

Se presenta un caso de triquinosis aguda en un masculino de 15 años de edad, el cual llamó la atención por la severidad de las manifestaciones clínicas, por la rapidez y facilidad del diagnóstico al utilizar biopsia de músculo y prueba de compresión, además de una buena respuesta a tiabendazol y dexametasona