In vitro effectiveness of acidic and alkline solutions on scolices of hydatid cyst

The most confident way for treatment of hydatid cyst is surgical operation. Spillage of the cyst contents during the operation is the major cause of recurrence after hydatid cyst surgery. Instillation of scolicidal agent into hydatid cyst is the most commonly employed measure to prevent this complication. In the present study, the scolicidal effect of highly acidic and alkaline solutions is investigated. Protoscoleces were collected aseptically from sheep livers containing hydatid cyst. Acidic solutions with pH 1, 2, 3, and 4 and alkaline solutions with pH 11, 12, 13, and 14 were used for 5,10, and 15 min in the experiments. Viability of protoscoleces was assessed by 0.1% eosin staining. Scolicidal effect of acidic solution with pH 1 after 5 min and with pH 2 and 3 after 10 min was 100%. Scolicidal effect of acidic solution with pH 2 and 3 after 5 min was 99.6% and 98.7%, respectively. Acidic solution with pH 4 after 5, 10, and 15 min killed 15.5%, 21.5%, and 22.6% of protoscoleces, respectively. Alkaline solution with pH 14 after 5 min and with pH 13 after 15 min killed all protoscoleces. The scolicidal effect of alkaline solution with pH 13 after 5 and 10 min was also 97.5% and 99.7%, respectively. These values for alkaline solution with pH 12 were 29.33%, 33.44% and 37.09%, respectively. The scolicidal effect of solution with pH 11 was 24.5%, 30.5%, and 31.3%, respectively. Although the in vitro scolicidal effect of highly acidic or alkaline solutions was satisfactory in our study, in vivo efficacy of these solutions and also possible side effects, remain to be more investigated.