Effectiveness of albendazole against viability of entamoeba histolytica in mice and rabbits

ABSTRUCT Objective: Intestinal amebiasis is still an important health problem in developing countries of the world. One of the issues for future biomedical research is the development of antimicrobial resistance, and the search for alternative new antiamoebic drugs. A study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of albendazole on the viability of Entamoeba histolytica clinical isolate from human which was used for experimental animals. Materials and Methods: All experimental animal models (18 albino mice and 18 rabbits), were divided into 6 groups, each group with either 6 mice or 6 rabbits, were orally infected with E. histolytica (clinical isolate), then after 7 days they were given drugs (Metronidazole or Albendazole) daily according to body weight prepared in advance for 5 days duration and in addition to the controls without drugs. Stool specimens of each group were examined microspically for viable trophozoites, and the number of these trophozoites were counted with haemocytometer chamber, as compared to untreated and treated groups. Statistical analysis was done by using Student‘st-test. Results: The results showed infection of E. histolytica initiated in rabbits only. Albendazole and metronidazole were highly effective (100%) for the treatment of infected groups of rabbits. Trphozoites of E. histolytica were highly sensitive to albendazole (25% viability), and metronidazole (22.7% viability) at a dose of 400 mg / kg / day and 250 mg / kg / day, respectively, which was significant in relation to the control (500% viability). Conclusions: The present study showed that the newly used albendazole is very effective anti-amebic drug as metronidazole in rabbits.