Therapeutic effect of diminazene aceturate on parasitic blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni infection.

In this study, we evaluated the antiparasitic properties of diminazene against S. mansoni ex vivo and in mice harboring either chronic or early S. mansoni infection. In vitro, we monitored phenotypic and tegumental changes as well as the effects of the drug on pairing and egg production. In a mouse infected with either adult (chronic infection) or immature (early infection) worms, diminazene was administered intraperitoneally (10-100 mg/kg) or by oral gavage (100-400 mg/kg), and we studied the influence of drug on worm burden and egg production. Liver and spleen pathologies and serum aminotransferase levels were also analyzed. In vitro, EC50 and EC90 values revealed that diminazene is able to kill both immature and adult parasites, and its effect was time- and concentration-dependent. In addition, confocal laser scanning microscopy showed morphological alterations in the tegument of schistosomes. In an animal model, the influence of the drug on worm burden, egg production, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly depended on the dosing regimen applied and route of administration. Diminazene also caused a significant reduction in aminotransferase levels. Comparatively, diminazene treatment was more effective in chronic infection than early infection. In tandem, our study revealed that diminazene possesses anthelmintic properties and it improves liver injury caused by Schistosoma eggs. PMID: 32816737 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Source Type: research