Evaluation of nitazoxanide and oxfendazole efficacy against cystic echinococcosis in naturally infected sheep.

Abstract

Cystic echinococosis (CE) is a public health problem caused by Echinococcus granulosus. We aimed to determine the efficacy of nitazoxanide (NTZ) and oxfendazole (OXF) against CE in naturally infected sheep. A total of 151 ewes were assigned to the following groups: 15 mg/kg of NTZ weekly for five weeks (NTZ5); two rounds of 15 mg/ kg of NTZ a day for five days (NTZ5x2) two weeks apart; 30 mg/kg of OXF a week for 11 weeks (OXF11); 30 mg/kg of OXF plus 15 mg/kg of NTZ a week for 11 weeks (OXF/NTZ); and the control group. OXF11 and OXF/NTZ decreased the number of fertile cysts, increased the number of degenerated cysts, and were more efficacious (49.6-61.2%) against lung cysts and liver cysts (91.8-100%) than any other treatment group. OXF might be an additional strategy for control programs and an optional treatment of human CE after it is licensed.

• Authors: Cesar M Gavidia, Armando E Gonzalez, Luis Lopera, Cesar Jayashi, Roxana Angelats, Eduardo A Barron, Berenice Ninaquispe, Lucia Villarreal, Hector H Garcia, Manuela R Verastegui, Robert H Gilman
• Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 80 Issue 3 Pg. 367-72 (Mar 2009) ISSN: 1476-1645 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19270283 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Antiparasitic Agents
• Benzimidazoles
• Nitro Compounds
• Thiazoles
• oxfendazole
• nitazoxanide

Topics

• Animals
• Antiparasitic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Benzimidazoles (therapeutic use)
• Echinococcosis, Hepatic (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Echinococcosis, Pulmonary (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Female
• Nitro Compounds
• Sheep
• Sheep Diseases (drug therapy)
• Thiazoles (therapeutic use)