Effects of free and liposomized praziquantel on worm burden and antibody response in mice infected with Mesocestoides corti tetrathyridia.

The parasite burden in the liver and peritoneal cavity, and antibody levels directed to whole worm extract, have been monitored in serum from ICR-strain mice, infected orally with 55 tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides corti (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea). The subcurative does (3x or 6x) of praziquantel (PZQ) (10 mg.kg-1 body weight) were administered to mice from day 14 post infection (p.i.) in two drug formulations: as PZQ suspended in Dorfman vehicle, or as PZQ incorporated in liposomes (lip.PZQ). The appearance of antibodies was time-dependent and correlated with the rate of reduction in numbers of tetrathyridia. PZQ in three and six doses caused the highest fall of parasite numbers in the liver on day 1 post therapy (p.t.). In the peritoneal cavity, a similar reduction in worm burden occurred but only after six doses of the drug. The worm count in the peritoneal cavity from groups of mice injected with lip.PZQ decreased most markedly on day 7 p.t., in the group treated with six doses of the drug. In the liver, the highest larvicidal effect, compared with the controls, was observed 6 days later (i.e. day 13 p.t.), following three doses of lip.PZQ. In all treated groups, two peak values of antitetrathyridial antibody levels were detected between days 1 and 13 p.t. (i.e. days 17 to 29 p.i.), after which there was a gradual but continuous increase in antibody tire.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)