pyrantel and oxantel

In five multicentre field trials, the efficacy and safety of a combination of oxantel/pyrantel/praziquantel (Dolpac), Vetoquinol SA) in the treatment of naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode and/or cestode infestation in dogs was evaluated in northern and southern Europe. Forty-eight investigators from France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain enrolled 329 dogs to be treated with the tested combination; 235 of these dogs complied with the inclusion criteria of the protocol and had a tested helminth identified on Day 0. A pooled analysis was performed on each of the following helminth species: Toxocara canis, Ancylostoma caninum, Toxascaris leonina, Trichuris vulpis, Uncinaria stenocephala, Taenia spp. and Dipylidium caninum, which were isolated on Day 0. The main efficacy criterion was the egg per gram (epg) percent reduction of the nematodes and the absence of proglottids and or eggs for the cestodes. After treatment, dogs were examined on Day 7, Day 14 and Day 21. The efficacy of the combination against Toxocara canis was 99.1%, 98.8% and 98.9% on Day 7, Day 14 and Day 21, respectively. At the same occasions the efficacy was, respectively, 99.2%, 99.2% and 99.3% against Ancylostoma caninum, 97.3%, 97.2% and 98.4% against Trichuris vulpis, 98.4%, 98.8% and 98.8% against Uncinaria stenocephala, 98.9%, 99.5% and 99.9% against Toxascaris leonina, 97.1%, 100% and 100% against Dipylidium caninum and 100% against Taenia spp.

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Cestode Infections; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Combinations; Europe; Feces; Female; Male; Nematode Infections; Praziquantel; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate

In the absence of efficient alternative strategies, the control of parasitic nematodes, impacting human and animal health, mainly relies on the use of broad-spectrum anthelmintic compounds. Unfortunately, most of these drugs have a limited single-dose efficacy against infections caused by the whipworm, Trichuris. These infections are of both human and veterinary importance. However, in contrast to a wide range of parasitic nematode species, the narrow-spectrum anthelmintic oxantel has a high efficacy on Trichuris spp. Despite this knowledge, the molecular target(s) of oxantel within Trichuris is still unknown. In the distantly related pig roundworm, Ascaris suum, oxantel has a small, but significant effect on the recombinant homomeric Nicotine-sensitive ionotropic acetylcholine receptor (N-AChR) made up of five ACR-16 subunits. Therefore, we hypothesized that in whipworms, a putative homolog of an ACR-16 subunit, can form a functional oxantel-sensitive receptor. Using the pig whipworm T. suis as a model, we identified and cloned a novel ACR-16-like subunit and successfully expressed the corresponding homomeric channel in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Electrophysiological experiments revealed this receptor to have distinctive pharmacological properties with oxantel acting as a full agonist, hence we refer to the receptor as an O-AChR subtype. Pyrantel activated this novel O-AChR subtype moderately, whereas classic nicotinic agonists surprisingly resulted in only minor responses. We observed that the expression of the ACR-16-like subunit in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans conferred an increased sensitivity to oxantel of recombinant worms. We demonstrated that the novel Tsu-ACR-16-like receptor is indeed a target for oxantel, although other receptors may be involved. These finding brings new insight into the understanding of the high sensitivity of whipworms to oxantel, and highlights the importance of the discovery of additional distinct receptor subunit types within Trichuris that can be used as screening tools to evaluate the effect of new synthetic or natural anthelmintic compounds.

Topics: Animals; Antinematodal Agents; Caenorhabditis elegans; Female; Helminth Proteins; Male; Pyrantel; Receptors, Cholinergic; Swine; Trichuriasis; Trichuris; Xenopus laevis

The high-affinity choline transporter CHT1 mediates choline uptake, the rate-limiting and regulatory step in acetylcholine synthesis at cholinergic presynaptic terminals. CHT1-medated choline uptake is specifically inhibited by hemicholinium-3, which is a type of choline analog that acts as a competitive inhibitor. Although the substrate choline and the inhibitor hemicholinium-3 are well-established ligands of CHT1, few potent ligands other than choline analogs have been reported. Here we show that tetrahydropyrimidine anthelmintics, known as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists, act as competitive inhibitors of CHT1. A ligand-dependent trafficking assay in cell lines expressing human CHT1 was designed to search for CHT1 ligands from a collection of biologically active compounds. We found that morantel as well as other tetrahydropyrimidines, pyrantel and oxantel, potently inhibits the high-affinity choline uptake activity of CHT1 in a competitive manner similar to the inhibitor hemicholinium-3. They also inhibit the high-affinity choline transporter from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Finally, tetrahydropyrimidines potently inhibit the high-affinity choline uptake in rat brain synaptosomes at a low micromolar level, resulting in the inhibition of acetylcholine synthesis. The rank order of potency in synaptosomes is as follows: morantel > pyarantel > oxantel (K

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Binding, Competitive; Biological Transport; Brain; Cation Transport Proteins; Choline; Female; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Ligands; Mice; Morantel; Protein Binding; Protein Transport; Pyrantel; Pyrimidines; Symporters; Synaptosomes

Topics: Albendazole; Ancylostomatoidea; Animals; Child; Helminths; Hookworm Infections; Humans; Laos; Mebendazole; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate; Single-Blind Method; Soil

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Cestoda; Cestode Infections; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Feces; Phenyl Ethers; Praziquantel; Pyrantel; RNA, Ribosomal; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; Thiocyanates; Treatment Outcome

Bacterial pathogens commonly associated with chronic periodontitis are the spirochete Treponema denticola and the Gram-negative, proteolytic species Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia. These species rely on complex anaerobic respiration of amino acids, and the anthelmintic drug oxantel has been shown to inhibit fumarate reductase (Frd) activity in some pathogenic bacteria and inhibit P. gingivalis homotypic biofilm formation. Here, we demonstrate that oxantel inhibited P. gingivalis Frd activity with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.2 μM and planktonic growth of T. forsythia with a MIC of 295 μM, but it had no effect on the growth of T. denticola. Oxantel treatment caused the downregulation of six P. gingivalis gene products and the upregulation of 22 gene products. All of these genes are part of a regulon controlled by heme availability. There was no large-scale change in the expression of genes encoding metabolic enzymes, indicating that P. gingivalis may be unable to overcome Frd inhibition. Oxantel disrupted the development of polymicrobial biofilms composed of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, and T. denticola in a concentration-dependent manner. In these biofilms, all three species were inhibited to a similar degree, demonstrating the synergistic nature of biofilm formation by these species and the dependence of T. denticola on the other two species. In a murine alveolar bone loss model of periodontitis oxantel addition to the drinking water of P. gingivalis-infected mice reduced bone loss to the same level as the uninfected control.

Topics: Animals; Antinematodal Agents; Biofilms; Mice; Periodontitis; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Pyrantel; Succinate Dehydrogenase; Treponema denticola

Topics: Animals; Antinematodal Agents; Biofilms; Periodontitis; Pyrantel; Succinate Dehydrogenase

We are interested in the allosteric modulation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). We have postulated that the anthelmintic morantel (Mor) positively modulates (potentiates) rat α3β2 receptors through a site located at the β(+)/α(-) interface that is homologous to the canonical agonist site (J Neurosci 29:8734-8742, 2009). On this basis, we aimed to determine the site specificity by studying differences in modulation between α3β2 and α4β2 receptors. We also compared modulation by Mor with that of the related compound oxantel (Oxa). Whereas Mor and Oxa each potentiated α3β2 receptors 2-fold at saturating acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations, Mor had no effect on α4β2 receptors, and Oxa inhibited ACh-evoked responses. The inhibition was noncompetitive, but not due to open channel block. Furthermore, the nature and extent of modulation did not depend on subunit stoichiometry. We studied six positions at the α(-) interface that differ between α3 and α4. Two positions (α3Ile57 and α3Thr115) help mediate the effects of the modulators but do not seem to contribute to specificity. Mutations in two others (α3Leu107 and α3Ile117) yielded receptors with appreciable α4-character; that is, Mor potentiation was reduced compared with wild-type α3β2 control and Oxa inhibition was evident. A fifth position (α3Glu113) was unique in that it discriminated between the two compounds, showing no change in Mor potentiation from control but substantial Oxa inhibition. Our work has implications for rational drug design for nicotinic receptors and sheds light on mechanisms of allosteric modulation in nAChRs, especially the subtle differences between potentiation and inhibition.

Topics: Allosteric Regulation; Allosteric Site; Animals; Anthelmintics; Drug Design; Morantel; Mutation; Nicotinic Agonists; Nicotinic Antagonists; Protein Subunits; Pyrantel; Rats; Receptors, Nicotinic

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major pathogen of chronic periodontitis and exists in a biofilm on the surface of the tooth root. Oxantel, a cholinergic anthelmintic and fumarate reductase inhibitor, significantly inhibited biofilm formation by P. gingivalis and disrupted established biofilms at concentrations below its MIC against planktonic cells. Oxantel was more effective against P. gingivalis in biofilm than metronidazole, a commonly used antibiotic for periodontitis.

Topics: Biofilms; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microscopy, Confocal; Periodontitis; Plankton; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Pyrantel; Succinate Dehydrogenase

The efficacy, safety and palatability of a new flavoured chewable anthelmintic tablet were investigated in dogs. The efficacy, based on worm counts, of a single recommended therapeutic dose (RTD) of 5 mg pyrantel + 20 mg oxantel + 5 mg praziquantel/kg bodyweight was assessed in experimental infections (EI) and natural infections (NI) with Trichuris vulpis, Echinococcus granulosus and Toxocara canis. For T vulpis, the efficacy of the treatment was 99.3 per cent in EI (comparing groups of six treated and six control dogs) and 100 per cent in NI (nine treated and nine control dogs). For E granulosus, the efficacy was more than 99.9 per cent in EI (11 treated and 11 control dogs). For T canis, the efficacy was 94.3 per cent in EI (10 treated and 10 control dogs) and 100 per cent in NI (12 treated and 13 control dogs). In a field study, Ancylostoma caninum (11 dogs) and T canis (11 dogs) faecal egg counts were reduced by more than 99 per cent, and in eight dogs with Dipylidium caninum proglotides in the faeces the efficacy was 100 per cent. The tablets were readily consumed by 56 of 64 (87.5 per cent) privately owned dogs. Safety was assessed in groups of six dogs treated either once with twice the RTD, once with six times the RTD, with twice the RTD on three consecutive days, or untreated. There were no significant differences in blood parameters between the groups, and no abnormal clinical findings. Two dogs treated with six times the RTD vomited, but no vomiting was observed when administration was repeated two days later.

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Feces; Female; Helminthiasis, Animal; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Praziquantel; Pyrantel; Taste; Treatment Outcome

Nicotinic receptors (AChRs) play key roles in synaptic transmission. We explored activation of neuronal alpha7 and mammalian muscle AChRs by morantel and oxantel. Our results revealed a novel action of morantel as a high efficacy and more potent agonist than ACh of alpha7 receptors. The EC(50) for activation by morantel of both alpha7 and alpha7-5HT(3A) receptors is 7-fold lower than that determined for ACh. The minimum morantel concentration required to activate alpha7-5HT(3A) channels is 6-fold lower than that of ACh, and activation episodes are more prolonged than in the presence of ACh. By contrast, oxantel is a weak agonist of alpha7 and alpha7-5HT(3A), and both drugs are very low efficacy agonists of muscle AChRs. The replacement of Gln(57) in alpha7 by glycine, which is found in the equivalent position of the muscle AChR, decreases the efficacy for activation and turns morantel into a partial agonist. The reverse mutation in the muscle AChR (epsilonG57Q) increases 7-fold the efficacy of morantel. The mutations do not affect activation by ACh or oxantel, indicating that this position is selective for morantel. In silico studies show that the tetrahydropyrimidinyl group, common to both drugs, is close to Trp(149) of the principal face of the binding site, whereas the other cyclic group is proximal to Gln(57) of the complementary face in morantel but not in oxantel. Thus, position 57 at the complementary face is a key determinant of the high selectivity of morantel for alpha7. These results provide new information for further progress in drug design.

Topics: alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; Binding Sites; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Design; Electrophysiology; Glutamine; Humans; Membrane Potentials; Models, Biological; Models, Chemical; Morantel; Muscles; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Mutation; Pyrantel; Receptors, Nicotinic

Three pharmacological subtypes of cholinergic receptors have been distinguished in Ascaris suum using a muscle contraction assay and classical pharmacological techniques. The receptor subtypes are: a B-subtype (sensitive to bephenium); an L-subtype (sensitive to levamisole and pyrantel); and an N-subtype (sensitive to nicotine and methyridine). Oxantel is a cholinergic anthelmintic that was first introduced for the treatment of whipworm, Trichuris, infections in children. Here, we compare the subtype selectivity of oxantel with thenium and other cholinergic anthelmintics. We used the A. suum assay to derive pA(2) values for the agonists: oxantel, thenium, bephenium, levamisole, pyrantel, nicotine and methyridine with the antagonists: paraherquamide, 2-desoxyparaherquamide and methyllycaconitine. pA(2) values, rather than pK(B) values, were determined for all agonists when it was found that Schild slopes for some agonists were significantly less than 1.0. The pA(2) of oxantel was 6.58+/-0.25 for paraherquamide; 5.39+/-0.28 for 2-desoxyparaherquamide; 7.01+/-0.19 for methyllycaconitine. Comparison of pA(2) values using cluster analysis showed that oxantel was grouped with nicotine and methyridine, the N-subtype agonists. Thenium had pA(2)s of 7.84+/-0.41 for paraherquamide; 5.52+/-0.50 for 2-desoxyparaherquamide; 6.33+/-0.19 for methyllycaconitine. Cluster analysis placed thenium between the L-subtype agonists and the B-subtype agonist. The therapeutic significance of classification of cholinergic anthelmintics is discussed. Combination of oxantel and pyrantel would have therapeutic advantages, covering N- and L-subtypes, and so increasing spectrum of action and reducing the potential for development of resistance. Our results predict that oxantel may remain effective in some nematode isolates that have become levamisole- and pyrantel-resistant.

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Ascaris suum; Cluster Analysis; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Levamisole; Nicotine; Nicotinic Agonists; Nicotinic Antagonists; Pyrantel; Pyridines; Receptors, Cholinergic

The molecular adaptor Fe65 is one of the cytosolic ligands of the Alzheimer's beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP), and this complex is believed to play important roles in mammalian cells. Upon cleavage of APP by specific processing activities, the complex between Fe65 and the APP intracellular domain (AICD) translocates to the nucleus. Experimental evidence suggests that the Fe65-AICD complex regulates gene transcription. In Caenorhabditis elegans the orthologue of the Fe65 gene, feh-1, regulates pharyngeal activity. In fact, the rate of pharyngeal contraction is increased following transient or stable suppression of the feh-1 gene expression. Here we show that the increased contraction rate of the pharynx in feh-1 mutant worms is associated to decreased acetylcholinesterase activity. The decreased activity is accompanied by reduced expression of ace-1 and ace-2 transcripts, coding for the two major acetylcholinesterase activities in the nematode. These results indicate a target of the regulatory mechanisms based on the Fe65-APP complex that could be relevant for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Topics: Acetylcholinesterase; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Blotting, Southern; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; Carrier Proteins; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gagging; Gene Expression Regulation; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Mammals; Membrane Proteins; Mutation; Nicotine; Nicotinic Agonists; Pyrantel; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Time Factors

Two homomer-forming nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits with 47% identity in their amino acid sequences were employed to compare the actions of cholinergic anthelmintics and ivermectin on expressed vertebrate and nematode nicotinic receptors of known molecular composition. Voltage-clamp electrophysiology was used to study recombinant nicotinic receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes following nuclear injection of cDNA encoding either chicken alpha7 or Caenorhabditis elegans ACR-16 (Ce21) subunits. Butamisole, morantel and metyridine were without agonist actions on either alpha7 or ACR-16 nicotinic receptors in the range 10nM-1mM. However, butamisole (pIC(50)=4.9 for both alpha7 and ACR-16) and morantel (pIC(50)=5.6 for alpha7 and 5.7 for ACR-16) antagonized responses of both alpha7 and ACR-16 receptors to acetylcholine. Metyridine (1mM) did not affect responses to acetylcholine of either receptor. Oxantel was without agonist actions on ACR-16, but was an acetylcholine antagonist (pIC(50)=5.4). In contrast, it was found to have low efficacy agonist action (pEC(50)=4.4) on alpha7 at concentrations in the range 10-300microM. In agreement with a previous study, ivermectin (30microM), an agonist of L-glutamate-gated chloride channels, enhanced the amplitude of responses to acetylcholine of alpha7 nicotinic receptors. However, this same concentration of ivermectin (30microM) did not potentiate the acetylcholine-induced responses of ACR-16, but rather resulted in a slight attenuation. We conclude that oxantel and ivermectin have identified new pharmacological differences between the chicken alpha7 nicotinic receptor and its C. elegans homologue ACR-16.

Topics: Acetylcholine; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; Animals; Anthelmintics; Caenorhabditis elegans; Chickens; DNA, Complementary; Female; Ivermectin; Morantel; Oocytes; Pyrantel; Pyridines; Receptors, Nicotinic; Sequence Homology; Thiazoles; Xenopus laevis

(1) The role of fumarate metabolism in the microaerophily of the Campylobacter genus and the effects of therapeutic agents against it were investigated. (2) NMR spectroscopy was employed to determine the properties of Campylobacter fumarase (Fum) and fumarate reductase (Frd). Radiotracer analysis was used to determine the production of carbon dioxide by Campylobacter cells. Standard microbiological techniques were used to measure the effects of environmental conditions and inhibitors on bacterial growth. (3) All Campylobacter species tested showed both Fum and Frd activities. Frd activity was observed with or without the addition of an exogenous electron donor in the particulate fractions obtained from lysates. Fumarate was oxidized to carbon dioxide via the acetyl-CoA cleavage pathway. The genes encoding proteins involved in fumarate metabolism were identified in the Campylobacter jejuni genome. Cells grew better in atmospheres with 5 and 10% oxygen levels. Fum activity was the same in cultures grown under different oxygen tensions and did not vary with the age of cultures. Frd activity was higher in cultures which grew at faster rates and decreased with the age of cultures. Four Frd inhibitors showed bactericidal effects against Campylobacter spp. with different potencies. The relative strengths of inhibition of the compounds followed the same order as the bactericidal effects. (4) The results suggested that Frd and Fum are constitutive and play a fundamental role in these microaerophiles which show characteristics of anaerobic metabolism, and that the Frd inhibitors tested would not be of therapeutic use.

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Campylobacter; Fumarates; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Levamisole; Malates; Morantel; Pyrantel; Thiabendazole

The patch clamp technique was used to investigate the action of the anthelmintic drug, oxantel, on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) currents recorded from vesicles of the somatic muscle cells of the nematode parasite Ascaris suum. The amplitudes of the currents were analysed at different membrane potentials to determine the single channel conductance. Also the open and closed durations were measured to determine the kinetic properties of the activated channel. Oxantel activated single nAChR currents throughout a concentration range 10-100 microM, these currents were not observed with oxantel-free pipette solutions. The mean open time of the activated channels at a membrane potential of -75 mV and a concentration of 10 microM was 1.34 ms. At higher concentrations the open times were shorter and voltage sensitive, decreasing in duration on hyperpolarization, thus suggesting open channel block. The kinetics were analysed using a simple channel block model. The forward block rate, K + B, increased with increasing oxantel concentration but showed little increase as the membrane was hyperpolarized. K + B was 2.41 x 10(7) M-1 s-1 at -50 mV and 2.64 x 10(7) M-1 s-1 at -100 mV. The unblocking rate constant, K-B, did exhibit voltage sensitivity being 443.6 s-1 at -50 mV and 86.8 s-1 at -100 mV. Thus the blocking dissociation constant KB (= K-B/K + B) was 18.5 microM at -50 mV and 3.3 microM at -100 mV. The simple channel block scheme was found to be insufficient to explain fully the observations made; reasons for this are discussed.

Topics: Animals; Antinematodal Agents; Ascaris suum; Ion Channel Gating; Ion Channels; Kinetics; Membrane Potentials; Muscles; Nicotinic Agonists; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Pyrantel

The potential of fumarate reductase as a therapeutic target against the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori was investigated by studying the cytotoxicity of morantel, oxantel, and thiabendazole, known to inhibit the enzyme in parasitic worms. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed to investigate the effects of the inhibitors on the fumarate reductase activity of laboratory-adapted and wild-type bacterial strains. Production of succinate from fumarate in H. pylori cells was inhibited by morantel, oxantel, and thiabendazole. Cell growth and viability techniques were used to examine the bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of the three anthelmintics. Each of the antiparasites arrested growth and produced cell death in liquid cultures, although the minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of these compounds are such that they would not be of therapeutic use. The strength of the effects as measured by minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations was oxantel > thiabendazole > morantel. The findings suggested that fumarate reductase is an essential component of the metabolism of H. pylori and as such constitutes a possible target for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of the bacterium.

Topics: Aconitate Hydratase; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Fumarate Hydratase; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Kinetics; Malate Dehydrogenase; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Morantel; Pyrantel; Succinate Dehydrogenase; Thiabendazole

A method is described for the determination of oxantel and pyrantel pamoate in proprietary broad spectrum anthelmintic tablets. Quantitation is performed by using an octyl Spherisorb column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water modified with butylamine. Carbaryl-(1-naphthyl methylcarbamate) is used as internal standard.

Topics: Anthelmintics; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Tablets

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anthelmintics; Child; Electrocardiography; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pyrantel; Trichuriasis

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antinematodal Agents; Benzimidazoles; Child; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Male; Mebendazole; Middle Aged; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate; Trichuriasis

A mixture of oxantel-pyrantel pamoate was given to 147 primary school children. A single daily dose of 15 mg per kg body weight was administered to cases with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura infections. The same single daily dose was given for three consecutive days to 10 cases with hookworm infections. The cure rate was 93.7% for ascariasis and the egg reduction rate was 98.2%. A cure rate and an egg reduction rate for trichuriasis was 70.2% and 86.5% respectively. All cases with hookworm infection were cured. Side effects were light and did not cause any anxiety.

Topics: Adolescent; Ascariasis; Child; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Indonesia; Necatoriasis; Parasite Egg Count; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate; Trichuriasis

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antinematodal Agents; Ascariasis; Benzimidazoles; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Mebendazole; Necatoriasis; Nematode Infections; Pyrantel; Pyrantel Pamoate; Trichuriasis

Single doses of oxantel given to 24 children and 37 adults with light to moderate infections of Trichuris trichiura effected cures in 20 of 26 (77%) trials with 10 mg/kg body weight, in 23 of 25 (92%) with 15 mg/kg, and in 10 of 10 trials with 20 mg/kg. In cases not cured, the egg-counts were reduced 50% to 91%. Side effects were not observed, and no drug-associated changes were detected by biochemical, hematologic, and urine examinations before and after treatment.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anthelmintics; Child; Feces; Humans; Pyrantel; Pyrimidines; Styrenes; Trichuriasis; Trichuris