ABSTRACT

Three commonly used Antihelmenthic drugs including Dormectin (0.2 mg/kg), Ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg) and Levamisole (7.5 mg/kg) were examined for their antihelmenthic efficacy against experimental Trichinella spiralis infection in rats.

One hundred and twenty rats were orally infected with 500 T. spiralis larvae. Drugs were tested against adult worms at 4th day, against migrating larvae at 10th days and against encysted larvae at 35^th day post infection (dpi). Rats were sacrificed five days post treatment. Mature worms and migrating larvae counts were detected.

Significant effect was detected in rats treated with Dormectin and Ivermectin compared to non-treated controls. Dormectin showed an efficacy of 97.75% and 86.23% in eliminating both mature worms and migrating larvae respectively. Ivermectin showed an efficacy of 94.99% and 83.85% respectively. However, Levamisole was the least effective drug; its efficacy was 4.83% and 3.57% against mature worms and migrating larvae respectively.

All of the tested drugs failed to inhibit the encysted larvae in the diaphragms. Moreover, T. spiralis infection in rats reduced significantly the values of total proteins, and albumin while globulin, urea and creatinine values were significantly increased together with AST and ALT activities.

Keywords: Trichinella spiralis, treatment, avermectins