Comparing the effectiveness of albendazole and combination of albendazole and praziquantel in experimental hydatidosis

Background: Due to danger of spillage of cyst materials during surgery, chemoprophylaxis is routinely recommended for cyctic echinococcosis. However, for prophylactic purposes the time for starting and the duration of administration of prophylactic drug regimen is not yet clear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the chemoprophylactic efficacy of one month administration of albendazole or a combination of albendazole plus praziquantel against protoscoleces stage of Echinococcus granulosus when administered before inoculation with the protoscoleces. Patients and methods: Two days before infestation, 30 mice were assigned in three equal groups of control, albendazole and albendazole plus praziquantel. Control group received dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The drugs were suspended in DMSO and administered by gavage for one month (5 consecutive days and two days off every week) in doses of 50mg/kg/day albendazole or 50mg/kg/day albendazole plus 600mg/kg/day praziquantel. The mice were then infected by IP injection of 2000 protoscoleces. Then, three months after the last dose of drug, mice were sacrificed and the number of infected animals, the number, wet weight and cyst sizes were recorded. Results: The results showed that albendazole chemoprophylaxis reduced the number, weight and cyst sizes by 63.78%, 79.39% and 60.98%, respectively. The corresponding results for the combination of albendazole plus praziquantel were 91.70%, 90% and 80.3%, respectively. All the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: Combination of albendazole and praziquantel is more effective than albendazole alone in controlling the development of secondary hydatidosis, when administered for a period of 4 weeks.