Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Fasciola hepatica: morphological effects of a combination of triclabendazole and clorsulon against mature fluke

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study has been carried out to investigate the morphological effects of half-strength triclabendazole (TCBZ), half-strength clorsulon, and a combination of these two drugs against mature Fasciola hepatica. The Cullompton TCBZ-susceptible isolate was used for these experiments. Flukes were incubated for 24 h in vitro in TCBZ sulphoxide (7.5 μg/ml), clorsulon (5 μg/ml), or a combination of the two drugs. For the in vivo experiment, rats were dosed with TCBZ (6.25 mg/kg body weight), clorsulon (5 mg/kg body weight), or a combination of the two drugs and flukes recovered after 48 h. Surface changes to the flukes were assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Treatment with the combination of drugs produced greater disruption to the flukes than the individual drugs at half-strength, both in vivo and in vitro. Disruption to the tegument of the flukes induced by the individual drugs at half-strength was relatively minor and less than that caused by the drugs at full-strength. The results suggest that there are additive effects between TCBZ and clorsulon, which may be indicative of synergy: the use of drug combinations would be of value in the treatment of triclabendazole-resistant fluke.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1-5 Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5
Fig. 6-11 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. 11
Fig. 12-17 Fig. 12 Fig. 13 Fig. 14 Fig. 15 Fig. 16 Fig. 17
Fig. 18-22 Fig. 18 Fig. 19 Fig. 20 Fig. 21 Fig. 22
Fig. 23-26 Fig. 23 Fig. 24 Fig. 25 Fig. 26

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albonico M (2003) Methods to sustain drug efficacy in helminth control programmes. Acta Trop 86:233–242

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes EH, Dobson RJ, Barger IA (1995) Worm control and anthelmintic resistance: adventures with a model. Parasitol Today 11:56–63

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennet EV, Behm C, Bryant C (1978) Effects of mebendazole and levamisole on tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides corti in the mouse. Int J Parasitol 8:463–466

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennet EV, Behm C, Bryant C, Chevis RAF (1980) Synergistic action of mebendazole and levamisole in the treatment of a benzimidazole-resistant Haemonchus contortus in sheep. Vet Parasitol 7:207–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boray JC (1993) Synergistic activity of anthelmintics for the control of susceptible and resistant strains of Fasciola hepatica for the prevention or management of anthelmintic resistance. In: Proceedings of the 14th international conference of the WAAVP, Cambridge, 1993, pp182

  • Casado N, Moreno MJ, Urrea-Paris MA, Rodriguez-Caabeiro F (2002) Could ivermectin have a synergic effect with albendazole in hydatidosis therapy? 1. In vitro studies. Parasitol Res 88:153–159

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fairweather I (2005) Triclabendazole: new skills to unravel an old(ish) enigma. J Helminthol 79:227–234

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fairweather I, Boray JC (1999) Fasciolicides: efficacy, actions, resistance and its management. Vet J 158:81–112

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henne8ssy DR, Lacey E, Steel JW, Prichard RK (1987) The kinetics of triclabendazole disposition in sheep. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 10:64–72

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins TJ, Gyr P (1991) Synergismus einer kombination von febantel und pyrantelembonat gegen Ancylostoma caninum beim hund. Vet Med Nachr 62:3–9

    Google Scholar 

  • McCoy MA, Fairweather I, Brennan GP, Kenny JM, Forbes AB (2005) The efficacy of nitroxynil and triclabendazole administered synchronously against juvenile triclabendazole-resistant Fasciola hepatica in sheep. Res Vet Sci 78:33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meaney M (2005) The morphological response of Fasciola species to clorsulon and triclabendazole, their uptake and synergistic interaction. Ph.D. thesis, The Queen’s University of Belfast

  • Meaney M, Fairweather I, Brennan GP, McDowell LSL, Forbes AB (2003) Fasciola hepatica: effects of the fasciolicide clorsulon in vitro and in vivo on the tegumental surface, and a comparison of the effects on young- and old-mature flukes. Parasitol Res 91:238–250

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meaney M, Fairweather I, Brennan GP, Forbes AB (2004) Transmission electron microscope study of the ultrastructural changes induced in the tegument and gut of Fasciola hepatica following in vivo drug treatment with clorsulon. Parasitol Res 92:232–241

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meaney M, Haughey S, Brennan GP, Fairweather I (2005) A scanning electron microscopy study on the route of entry of clorsulon into the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. Parasitol Res 95:117–128

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehlhorn H, Harder A (1997) Effects of the synergistic action of febantel and pyrantel on the nematode Heterakis spumosa: a light and transmission electron microscopy study. Parasitol Res 83:419–434

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehlhorn H, Hanser E, Harder A, Hansen O, Mencke N, Schaper R (2003) A light and electron microscopic study on the synergistic effect of pyrantel and the febantel metabolite febendazole on adult Toxocara canis in vitro. Parasitol Res 90:305–313

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno MJ, Urrea-Paris MA, Casado N, Rodriguez-Caabeiro F (2001) Praziquantel and albendazole in the combined treatment of experimental hydatid disease. Parasitol Res 87:235–238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno MJ, Casado N, Urrea-Paris MA, Rodriguez-Caabeiro F (2002) Could ivermectin have a synergic effect with albendazole in hydatidosis therapy? 2. In vivo studies. Parasitol Res 88:563–567

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolay F, Harder A, Von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Mehlhorn H (2000) Synergistic action of a cyclic depsipeptide and piperazine on nematodes. Parasitol Res 86:982–992

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson MW, Trudgett A, Hoey EM, Fairweather I (2002) Triclabendazole-resistant Fasciola hepatica: β-tubulin and response to in vitro treatment with triclabendazole. Parasitology 124:325–338

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sangster NC (2001) Managing parasiticide resistance. Vet Parasitol 98:89–109

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulman MD, Valentino D, Cifelli S, Lang R, Ostlind DA (1979) A pharmacokinetic basis for the efficacy of 4-amino-6-trichlororoethenyl-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide against Fasciola hepatica in the rat. J Parasitol 65:555–561

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stettler M, Rossignol JF, Fink R, Walker M, Gottstein B, Merli M, Theurillat R, Thormann W, Dricot E, Segers R, Hemphill A (2004) Secondary and primary murine alveolar echinococcosis: combined albendazole/nitazoxanide chemotherapy exhibits profound anti-parasitic activity. Int J Parasitol 34:615–624

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stitt AW, Fairweather I (1993) Fasciola hepatica: tegumental surface changes in adult and juvenile flukes following treatment in vitro with the sulphoxide metabolite of triclabendazole (Fasinex). Parasitol Res 79:529–536

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Urrea-Paris MA, Moreno MJ, Casado N, Rodriguez-Caabeiro F (2000) In vitro effect of praziquantel and albendazole combination therapy on the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Parasitol Res 86:957–964

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Utzinger J, Keiser J (2004) Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis: common drugs for treatment and control. Expert Opin Pharmacother 5:1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Utzinger J, Keiser J, Shuhua X, Tanner M, Singer BH (2003) Combination chemotherapy of schistosomiasis in laboratory studies and clinical trials. Antimicrob Agents Chemoth 47:1487–1495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waller PJ (1997) Anthelmintic resistance. Vet Parasitol 72:391–412

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolstenholme AJ, Fairweather I, Pricard R, Von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Sangster NC (2004) Drug resistance in veterinary helminths. Trends Parasitol 20:469–476

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a postgraduate studentship (to M. Meaney) from the European Social Fund and by Merial Animal Health Ltd.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Parasite Proteomics and Therapeutics Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, The Queen’s University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 7BL, UK

    M. Meaney, J. Allister, B. McKinstry, K. McLaughlin, G. P. Brennan & I. Fairweather

  2. Merial Animal Health Ltd., Harlow Business Park, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5TG, UK

    A. B. Forbes

Authors
  1. M. Meaney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Allister
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. McKinstry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. McLaughlin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. P. Brennan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. B. Forbes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. I. Fairweather
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. Fairweather.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Meaney, M., Allister, J., McKinstry, B. et al. Fasciola hepatica: morphological effects of a combination of triclabendazole and clorsulon against mature fluke. Parasitol Res 99, 609–621 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0222-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0222-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation