Determination of the minimum time of praziquantel therapy required for the in vitro treatment of protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus.
Abstract: Ovine and equine protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus were cultured for 26 days with our without praziquantel and viability assessed, by eosin exclusion, for cultures in various drug concentrations (50, 250 and 500 micrograms/l) and periods of exposure (1, 3 or 7 days (d] before removing/'rescuing' to drug-free medium. Drug efficacy was proportional to drug concentration and to length of exposure. At higher drug concentrations shorter exposures were required to produce the effect of continuous drug treatment, 1d therapy at 500 micrograms/l killing 96% ovine protoscoleces by day 14 whereas 7d therapy at 50 micrograms/l was required to produce a similar effect. Equine protoscoleces appeared marginally less susceptible than those of ovine origin. The relevance of the results in the need for peri-operative prophylaxis against spilled protoscoleces in man is discussed.
Publication Date: 1988-03-01 PubMed ID: 3372974DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x00011135Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigated the minimum time required for praziquantel, a medication, to effectively treat protoscoleces, a larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, in a controlled environment. It found that the drug’s effectiveness was correlated with both dosage and exposure time; higher concentrations and longer exposure times resulted in more effective treatment, with certain thresholds presenting near-similar results to continuous treatment.
Research Methodology
- The researchers cultured ovine (sheep) and equine (horse) protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus for a duration of 26 days. These protoscoleces were either treated with praziquantel or were left untreated.
- Viability of the cultures was assessed via eosin exclusion, allowing the researchers to compare results across different drug concentrations and exposure durations.
- The drug concentrations used for the study were 50, 250 and 500 micrograms per liter, and the periods of exposure were 1, 3, and 7 days. After these periods, the cultures were ‘rescued’ to a drug-free medium.
Key Findings
- The study found a directly proportional relationship between the effectiveness of the drug and the concentration/duration of exposure. This means that higher drug concentrations and longer exposure periods demonstrated increased efficiency in treating the protoscoleces.
- For instance, a 1-day therapy at a concentration of 500 micrograms per liter led to a 96% kill-rate of ovine protoscoleces by day 14. In comparison, a similar effect was achieved with a 7-day therapy at a lower concentration of 50 micrograms per liter.
- The study also noted a slightly lower susceptibility in equine protoscoleces when compared to ovine ones.
Consequences and Implications
- The findings from this study are relevant to understanding the duration and concentration of praziquantel therapy necessary to effectively kill Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces.
- These results could influence practices for peri-operative prophylaxis against accidental spillage of protoscoleces in human patients, improving treatment outcomes and potentially reducing therapy time.
Cite This Article
APA
Morris DL, Taylor DH, Daniels D, Riley EM, Richards KS.
(1988).
Determination of the minimum time of praziquantel therapy required for the in vitro treatment of protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus.
J Helminthol, 62(1), 10-14.
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022149x00011135 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Nottingham, England.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Echinococcus / drug effects
- Praziquantel / pharmacology
- Time Factors
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