In vitro treatments of Echinococcus granulosus with fungal chitosan, as a novel biomolecule.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determined the antiparasitic activity of the isolated chitosan from Penicillium viridicatum, Penicillium aurantiogriseum and commercial chitosan against protoscolicidal of hydatid cysts were determined. METHODS: After isolating chitosan from fungal cell walls, four concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400 µg/mL) of each type of prepared chitosan and commercial chitosan were used for 10, 30, 60, and 180 min, respectively. RESULTS: Among different type of chitosan, commercial chitosan with the highest degree of deacetylation showed high scolicidal activity in vitro. Fungal chitosan could be recommended, as good as commercial chitosan, for hydatic cysts control. CONCLUSIONS: It seems to be a good alternative to synthetic and chemical scolicidal.