Evaluation of nitazoxanide and oxfendazole efficacy against cystic echinococcosis in naturally infected sheep.

Cesar M Gavidia, Armando E Gonzalez, Luis Lopera, Cesar Jayashi, Roxana Angelats, Eduardo A Barron, Berenice Ninaquispe, Lucia Villarreal, Hector H Garcia, Manuela R Verastegui, Robert H Gilman

Index: Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 80(3) , 367-72, (2009)

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Abstract

Cystic echinococosis (CE) is a public health problem caused by Echinococcus granulosus. We aimed to determine the efficacy of nitazoxanide (NTZ) and oxfendazole (OXF) against CE in naturally infected sheep. A total of 151 ewes were assigned to the following groups: 15 mg/kg of NTZ weekly for five weeks (NTZ5); two rounds of 15 mg/ kg of NTZ a day for five days (NTZ5x2) two weeks apart; 30 mg/kg of OXF a week for 11 weeks (OXF11); 30 mg/kg of OXF plus 15 mg/kg of NTZ a week for 11 weeks (OXF/NTZ); and the control group. OXF11 and OXF/NTZ decreased the number of fertile cysts, increased the number of degenerated cysts, and were more efficacious (49.6-61.2%) against lung cysts and liver cysts (91.8-100%) than any other treatment group. OXF might be an additional strategy for control programs and an optional treatment of human CE after it is licensed.