Effect of albendazole sulphoxide on viability of hydatid protoscoleces in vitro.

Hydatid protoscoleces obtained from sheep (infected with Echinococcus granulosus) were treated in culture medium with albendazole sulphoxide at final concentrations of 100, 500 and 1000 micrograms/l and the viability was assessed at regular intervals. Over a period of up to 31 days concentrations of 500 and 1000 micrograms/l of sulphoxide significantly reduced the viability in treated groups, as compared with appropriate controls, whilst 100 micrograms/l of sulphoxide had no effect.