Elmahy Rasha A, Radwan Nahla A
Department of Zoology, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
Acta Parasitol. 2025 Apr 23;70(3):96. doi: 10.1007/s11686-025-01026-x.
Toxocara canis is a globally distributed zoonotic parasite found in dogs' intestines, leading to various pathological damages, particularly to the intestinal flora. The larval stage causes human toxocariasis, especially in children, and may result in neurological disorders and blindness. Quercetin is a flavonoid with strong secondary metabolites and possesses medicinal advantages and antiparasitic qualities.
The assay involved four groups, each of 10 young adult T. canis; Group I was incubated in concentrations of an ethanolic extract of quercetin, Group II in albendazole (0.2 mM/ml) (+ve control), Group III in RPMI 1640 medium with ethanol (control), and Group IV in RPMI 1640 medium only (-ve control). The potential action of quercetin against adult T. canis in vitro was detected using scanning electron microscopy, histological investigations, and enzyme analysis.
SEM declared that exposure to LC90 of quercetin caused body shrinkage, cuticle and caudal papillae swelling, and disfigurement and erosion of cuticular annulations. Compared to albendazole's effect on the treated worm's body wall, results showed that quercetin generates oxidative stress and has an extensive and variable effect on T. canis organs, including the body wall, the gut, and the genitalia.
Quercetin may set the stage for a new class of medications with remarkable potential for treating parasitic nematodes in dogs and could be extended to humans. This is the first time to employ a comprehensive study illuminating the potential action of quercetin against adult Toxocara canis in vitro.
犬弓首蛔虫是一种分布于全球的人畜共患寄生虫，寄生于犬的肠道内，可导致各种病理损害，尤其是对肠道菌群的损害。其幼虫阶段可引起人类弓首蛔虫病，在儿童中尤为常见，可能导致神经紊乱和失明。槲皮素是一种具有强大次生代谢产物的黄酮类化合物，具有药用优势和抗寄生虫特性。
实验分为四组，每组10只成年犬弓首蛔虫；第一组在不同浓度的槲皮素乙醇提取物中孵育，第二组在阿苯达唑（0.2 mM/ml）中孵育（阳性对照），第三组在含有乙醇的RPMI 1640培养基中孵育（对照），第四组仅在RPMI 1640培养基中孵育（阴性对照）。使用扫描电子显微镜、组织学研究和酶分析检测槲皮素对体外成年犬弓首蛔虫的潜在作用。
扫描电子显微镜显示，暴露于槲皮素的LC90会导致虫体收缩、角质层和尾乳头肿胀，以及角质层环纹的变形和侵蚀。与阿苯达唑对处理后虫体体壁的作用相比，结果表明槲皮素会产生氧化应激，对犬弓首蛔虫的器官，包括体壁、肠道和生殖器，具有广泛且多样的影响。
槲皮素可能为一类新型药物奠定基础，这类药物在治疗犬寄生线虫方面具有显著潜力，并且可能扩展到人类。这是首次采用全面研究阐明槲皮素对体外成年犬弓首蛔虫的潜在作用。
