Histoenzymic effects of thiophenate and fenbendazole on the absorptive surfaces of Haemonchus contortus.

In vitro alterations induced by a 10 micrograms/ml and 50 micrograms/ml dose each of thiophenate and fenbendazole on the absorptive surfaces of Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) were studied. The most significant changes were induced in the gut epithelium. Alkaline phosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase activities were decreased, succinic dehydrogenase activity was increased, while acid phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase were completely lost from the intestinal epithelium after treatment with either of the drugs. A stimulatory effect of these two anthelmintics was observe on lactic dehydrogenase and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase distribution. Thiophenate caused an increase in the activities of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) and nonspecific esterases and a decrease in reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-D) activity. Fenbendazole treatment led to the inhibition of GDH, while G-6-PD, NADPH-D, cytochrome oxidase, monoamine oxidase and nonspecific esterase activity remained unaltered in the epithelium.