Levamisole and mebendazole in the treatment of bancroftian infection

Levamisole and mebendazole, broad spectrum anthelminthic compounds were tested against microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti, and the results were compared with similarly treated diethylcarbamazine and untreated group. Levamisole at a dosage of 3 mg/kg daily for 8 days showed marked reduction in both microfilaria rate and microfilaria density and immediately thereafter mf-rate steadily increased almost up to pre-treatment level, the mf-density however showed only marginal increase. Mebendazole at dosage of 6 mg/kg daily for 10 days following 8 days treatment of levamisole also showed marginal increase of mf-rate but no increase of mf-density. Treatment with DEC at a dosage of 6 mg/kg daily for 12 days showed comparatively better results both in respect of reduction in mf-rate and mf-density. The reactions - severity and duration were more among levamisole treated groups as compared to DEC treated group. Thus with the dosages tried, DEC could be considered as a better drug than levamisole and mebendazole. Both the latter compounds had no or very limited effect on the adult worms of W. bancrofti.