The effect of levamisole and levamisole+vitamin C on oxidative damage in rats naturally infected with Syphacia muris.

This study was performed to determine the effects of levamisole and levamisole+vitamin C against Syphacia muris naturally infection in rats and to detect its effect on the oxidative parameters in blood and tissues of host. For this purpose, natural infection was diagnosed using the cellophane tape method on the perianal region of rats. Infected rats (total 18) were divided into three groups. On the other hand six without helminth rats were used in this study as negative control group. Group 2 was given an orally levamisole HCl treatment with gastric gavage at a dose level of 20mg/kg body weight in distilled water, every alternate day. Group 3 was given levamisole HCl via gastric gavage at a dose level of 20mg/kg and vitamin C was given 1g/L added to the drinking water. All the treatments continued for a period of 7 days. As a result; levamisole administered to rats at dose of 20mg/kg orally 98.34% was found to be effective against adult S. muris in the rats. In addition to levamisole+vitamin C is effective to alleviate the oxidative damage in rats infected with S. muris.

Impaired intestinal electrolyte transport in rats infested with the common parasite Syphacia muris.

An incidentally discovered infestation with the nematode Syphacia muris of cecum and colon in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive control (WKY) rats was investigated over a two-year period. Infestation rates in WKY were higher than in SHR, while clinical signs as well as histological changes of colonic tissues were absent in both strains. In vivo net water absorption (microliter/hr/cm2) in control worm-free SHR turned into secretion in infested rats, ie, from 74.2 +/- 23.2 to -7.5 +/- 35.0 (P less than 0.001); this corresponded with a decrease in net absorption (mumol/hr/cm2) of Na from 18.5 +/- 2.4 to 9.3 +/- 4.3 (P less than 0.001) and of Cl from 14.0 +/- 3.2 to 3.2 +/- 5.7 (P less than 0.001). In WKY, net water absorption decreased from 112.2 +/- 23.2 to 48.0 +/- 25.1 (P less than 0.001) and Na and Cl absorption from 22.3 +/- 3.1 to 16.0 +/- 4.2 (P less than 0.005) and from 19.4 +/- 2.7 to 10.9 +/- 4.7 (P less than 0.005), respectively. Antihelminthic treatment with 0.007% pyrvinium pamoate in the ration (four weeks on, six months off) eradicated Syphacia muris in both rat strains. Body weight gain of young rats on normal and pyrvinium pamoate-substituted diet studied over 18 months was similar, indicating a good tolerance of the treatment. It is concluded that results obtained during comparative intestinal transport studies between SHR and WKY may not only be impaired but also significantly distorted by Syphacia muris infestation as SHR appear to be more susceptible to effects induced by this common parasite than WKY.

[Experience with the use of nemocide (pyrantel pamoate) in nematodiases]. / Opyt primeneniia nemotsida (pirantelia pamoata) pri nematodozakh.

The clinical efficacy of and tolerance to the nemocide pyranthel pamoate produced by "IPCA" (India) and applied to nematodiasis treatment have been investigated. A high efficacy of the drug (94.4-100%) for ascariasis, enterobiasis and ancylostomiasis treatment has been established. The drug is well tolerated by adults and induces slight short-term alterations of hepatic functional activity in 5-10-year-old children.

Adverse metabolic effects of antiparasitic drugs.

Several drugs are available for mass campaigns against enteric helminths. Mebendazole and pyrantel pamoate are quite effective against ascariasis and reasonably effective against the hookworms. Only mebendazole is effective against trichuriasis. Two drugs have recently been introduced for mass therapy of schistosomiasis, but they remain experimental, pending further evaluation. Other drugs are mentioned, and possible adverse metabolic effects are discussed. The fundamental question remaining is whether the eradication of certain parasites will improve the nutritional status of the infected populations.