Salama Wesam M, Elmahy Rasha A
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol. 2025 Apr;343(3):343-355. doi: 10.1002/jez.2893. Epub 2024 Dec 24.
One neglected zoonotic illness is toxocariasis. There are not enough anthelmintic drugs in the market to treat low-effectiveness toxocariasis against migrating larvae. Therefore, it is critical to find new, safe alternatives to toxocariasis treatment today. The venom of the Leiurus quinquestratus scorpion (LQV) has numerous medicinal uses. The purpose of this study was to conduct that LQV had an effect on T. canis larvae in the model of mice. Fifty male mice were divided into five groups (n = 10). Group 1 (Gp1) was the negative group, and from Gp2-Gp5 had been infected with 800-1000 T. canis embryonated eggs. Gp2 was left as positive control, Gp3 was orally administrated with albendazole (Alb) (100 mg/kg/b.wt) for 7 consecutive days at first day post infection (pi), Gp4 was injected intra-peritoneal (i.p) with LQV (0.03 mg/kg/b.wt) for 15 consecutive days at the first day pi, and Gp5 was given Alb/LQV in the same way and doses as Gp3 and Gp4. At the end of the experiment, at 30th pi, the blood samples were collected for evaluating the biochemical and hematological parameters. The larval count reduction in brain were evaluated, and the histopathological changes in brain and liver were detected. The results showed that, treatment with LQV or Alb/LQV combinations significantly reduced the larval burden in the brain of the infected mice with reduction percentage reached to 70, and 72%, respectively. Interestingly, LQV and Alb/LQV significantly reduced IL-4, IL-10, and TNF -α levels and increased IFN-γ levels. Also, improved the liver transaminases activity, and ameliorated liver and brain architecture. Collectively, LQV may be a promising treatment for T. canis infection and albendazole alternative.
一种被忽视的人畜共患病是弓蛔虫病。市场上没有足够的驱虫药物来治疗对迁移幼虫效果不佳的弓蛔虫病。因此，如今寻找新的、安全的弓蛔虫病治疗替代方法至关重要。以色列金蝎（LQV）的毒液有许多药用价值。本研究的目的是在小鼠模型中进行LQV对犬弓首蛔虫幼虫有影响的研究。五十只雄性小鼠被分为五组（n = 10）。第1组（Gp1）为阴性组，Gp2 - Gp5组感染了800 - 1000枚犬弓首蛔虫感染性虫卵。Gp2组作为阳性对照组，Gp3组在感染后第1天开始连续7天口服阿苯达唑（Alb）（100 mg/kg/体重），Gp4组在感染后第1天开始连续15天腹腔注射（i.p）LQV（0.03 mg/kg/体重），Gp5组以与Gp3组和Gp4组相同的方式和剂量给予Alb/LQV。在实验结束时，即感染后第30天，采集血样以评估生化和血液学参数。评估脑内幼虫数量减少情况，并检测脑和肝脏的组织病理学变化。结果表明，用LQV或Alb/LQV组合治疗可显著降低感染小鼠脑内的幼虫负荷，降低百分比分别达到70%和72%。有趣的是，LQV和Alb/LQV显著降低了IL - 4、IL - 10和TNF -α水平，并提高了IFN -γ水平。此外，还改善了肝转氨酶活性，并改善了肝脏和脑结构。总体而言（总的来说），LQV可能是治疗犬弓首蛔虫感染的一种有前景的疗法，也是阿苯达唑的替代药物。
