Effect of diethylcarbamazine citrate on Angiostrongylus malaysiensis infection in rats.

The aim of the study was to observe the effect of diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) on Angiostrongylus malaysiensis infection in albino rats. An attempt was made to vary the dose of DEC and treat infected animals at the larval and adult stages of infection. The doses were varied with an aim at finding an effective dosage. Animals were treated also during the pre-infection period to observe if the drug had any prophylactic properties. The results obtained show that DEC given after infection was effective only when its administration was initiated on day 42 of the infection corresponding to the mature adult stage of the parasite. In addition, it had some prophylactic activity against the infection.