Ultrastructural changes in Ascaris suum after oxibendazole treatment
1Department of Zoology Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya.
African Journal of Health Sciences
|June 22, 2007
Summary
Oxibendazole treatment causes severe damage to adult Ascaris suum worms. Microscopic changes disrupt nutrient absorption and lead to worm death.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Helminthology
- Electron Microscopy
Background:
- Ascaris suum is a significant gastrointestinal nematode parasite of livestock.
- Anthelmintic resistance necessitates understanding drug mechanisms of action.
- Oxibendazole is a benzimidazole anthelmintic used to control parasitic infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural effects of oxibendazole on adult Ascaris suum.
- To elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying oxibendazole's anthelmintic activity.
Main Methods:
- Adult Ascaris suum specimens were treated with oxibendazole.
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to observe surface changes.
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was utilized to examine internal cellular structures.
Main Results:
- Oxibendazole induced significant morphological alterations in Ascaris suum.
- Observed changes included collapse of lip papillae and buccal cavity cuticle rupture.
- Degeneration of epithelial cells, microvilli erosion, and pharyngeal prolapse were noted.
Conclusions:
- Oxibendazole treatment leads to severe damage to the Ascaris suum cuticle and digestive system.
- These ultrastructural changes impair nutrient uptake and induce cellular autolysis.
- The observed pathology ultimately results in the death of the parasite.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Anthelminthic Agents
Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...
01:28Amebiasis
Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...