Open AccessIn vitro efficacy of anthelmintics on Angiostrongylus cantonensis L3 larvae
Author(s) -
John Jacob,
Ghee Teng Tan,
Ingo Lange,
Hiwa K. Saeed,
Abhijit A. Date,
Susan I. Jarvi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
parasitology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1469-8161
pISSN - 0031-1820
DOI - 10.1017/s0031182020001146
Subject(s) - angiostrongylus cantonensis , biology , ivermectin , anthelmintic , levamisole , albendazole , praziquantel , niclosamide , pyrantel , moxidectin , in vivo , pharmacology , helminths , immunology , schistosomiasis , zoology , ecology , microbiology and biotechnology
Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the leading cause of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide, with life-threatening complications if not managed correctly. Previous in vitro studies have utilized change in motility patterns of adult female worms to assess the efficacy of anthelmintics qualitatively. However, it is the third stage larvae (L3) that are infectious to humans. With differential staining using propidium iodide penetration as the indicator of death, we can distinguish between dead and live larvae. This assay has enabled us to quantify the in vitro efficacy of nine clinically established anthelmintics on A. cantonensis L3. All drugs were tested at a 1 mm concentration. Piperazine and niclosamide were ineffective in inducing larval death; however, albendazole sulfoxide, pyrantel pamoate, diethylcarbamazine, levamisole and praziquantel were effective as compared to unexposed controls (P < 0.05). Ivermectin and moxidectin did not induce significant levels of mortality, but they considerably reduced larval motility almost immediately. This study indicates the need for further in vivo studies to determine the optimal dose and time frame for post-infection treatment with anthelmintics that demonstrated efficacy.