Efficacy of benzimidazole carbamate on an intestinal fluke co-infected with nematodes.

Author(s): Waikagul J, Watthanakulpanich D, Muennoo C, Maipanich W, Sa-nguankiat S, Phubampen S

Affiliation(s): Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

Publication date & source: 2005-02, J Med Assoc Thai., 88(2):233-7.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

The efficacy of a single dose of benzimidazole, drugs commonly used for the treatment of Ascaris and hookworm, was evaluated against one of the tiny-sized intestinal flukes, Haplorchis sp in the endemic area where mixed infections of roundworms and flatworms existed. At day 7 after treatment, albendazole (400 mg) induced 42.5% cure rate, mebendazole (500 mg) a cure rate of 32.4%, on the other hand, praziquantel (40 mg/kg) gave 94.6% cure rate and the placebo at 15.9%. At the single dose, benzimidazole could not completely expelled the haplorchid; but could reduce one third to two fifth of the infection, similar to the drugs efficacy against Trichuris infection.