Histopathological and biochemical studies on immunocompetent and immunocompromised Hymenolepis nana infected mice...

Hymenolepiasis is a common parasitic infection of children and considered an opportunistic disease with a life-threatening effect among immunocompromised patients through cysticercoid dissemination. Mirazid (Commiphora molmol) is new phytotherapy for hymenolepiasis. So, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Mirazid treatment comparing to Praziquantel (PZQ) (standard treatment) among immunocompetent and immunocompromised infected albino mice through biochemical and histopathological parameters. A total of 60 clean male albino mice (immunocompetent group) were divided into equal five groups which were infected and treated with Mirazid beside PZQ. Another 72 infected immunocompromised animals were divided into equal six groups and were also treated with Mirazid and PZQ. Liver and kidney functions were estimated as well as histopathological examination of intestine and liver. Levels of AST in the serum of infected mice treated with Mirazid or PZQ recorded a highly significant increase compared to the normal control group. The percentage of increase was 83.30% and 36.60% respectively. While the infected group recorded a non-significant decrease in AST level and the percentage of decrease was - 7.4%. Immunocompetent groups showed a positive significant correlation with the control Mirazid or control PZQ groups recorded an increase in liver function enzymes (AST, Bilirubin, and GGT) (P < 0.001) comparing to the normal control group. In conclusion, Mirazid showed higher cure rates than PZQ, 95.45%, and 74.54% on the 15th and the 21st days, it reached 100% respectively associated with good improvement of histopathological changes in intestine and liver.