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The binding and distribution of albendazole and its principal metabolites in Giardia duodenalis
Author(s) -
Oxberry M. E.,
Reynoldson J. A.,
Thompson R. C. A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.527
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-2885
pISSN - 0140-7783
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2885.2000.00254.x
Subject(s) - albendazole , giardia , biology , giardia lamblia , anthelmintic , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology
Trophozoites of the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis were exposed to various albendazole concentrations for 4 h, washed, fixed and incubated with antibodies raised against albendazole and its two major metabolites albendazole sulphoxide and albendazole sulphone. Tubulin antibodies were also used. A peroxidase‐ or FITC‐conjugated secondary antibody was used to detect the primary antibody with transmission electron microscopy or confocal laser scanning microscopy, respectively. Albendazole, a benzimidazole compound, was detected in the mid‐dorsal region of trophozoites, albendazole sulphoxide in the posterior‐dorsal region and albendazole sulphone in clusters above the median bodies. Tubulin was recognised in the ventral disk. This is the first indication that G. duodenalis may be capable of metabolising albendazole and the potential path of the metabolised drug traced within the trophozoite. Fluorescence measurements revealed that albendazole sulphoxide binding decreased and albendazole sulphone binding increased with exposure of the trophozoites to increasing albendazole concentration. This indicates that if albendazole was being metabolised by trophozoites, it occurred to a greater extent following exposure to higher albendazole concentrations.