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Target sites of anthelmintics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 1997

R. J. MARTIN
Affiliation:
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, R.(D.)S.V.S., University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH
A. P. ROBERTSON
Affiliation:
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, R.(D.)S.V.S., University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH
H. BJORN
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology and Pathobiology, Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural School, Bülowsvej 13, DK-1850 Frederiksberg C, Denmark

Abstract

This paper reviews sites of action of anthelmintic drugs including: (1) levamisole and pyrantel, which act as agonists at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of nematodes; (2) the avermectins, which potentiate or gate the opening of glutamate-gated chloride channels found only in invertebrates; (3) piperazine, which acts as an agonist at GABA gated chloride channels on nematode muscle; (4) praziquantel, which increases the permeability of trematode tegument to calcium and results in contraction of the parasite muscle; (5) the benzimidazoles, like thiabendazole, which bind selectively to parasite β-tubulin and prevents microtubule formation; (6) the proton ionophores, like closantel, which uncouple oxidative phosphorylation; (7) diamphenethide and clorsulon, which selectively inhibit glucose metabolism of Fasciola and; (8) diethylcarbamazine, which appears to interfere with arachidonic acid metabolism of filarial parasites and host. The review concludes with brief comments on the development of anthelmintics in the future.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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