Effect of artesunate and artemether against Opisthorchis felineus in rodent model

A comparative in vivo assessment of the artemisinin derivatives artesunate and artemether (150 and 300 mg/kg) and praziquantel (400 mg/kg) was conducted in a hamster model of opisthorchiasis caused by Opisthorchis felineus. Physiological, biochemical, and hematological parameters, including complete blood counts and peripheral blood cell composition, were evaluated in all experimental groups. The animals were infected with 100 metacercariae of O. felineus and 1.5 months post-infection received a single oral dose of the tested compounds. Food consumption was monitored before the experiment ended, after which worm burdens were quantified. The mean infestation intensity in hamsters was 41.9 ± 1.75 worms per animal. Artesunate and artemether produced mean worm burden reductions of 60% and 58% at 150 mg/kg and 84.5% and 82% at 300 mg/kg, respectively (p < 0.001). Artesunate showed statistically significant efficacy, and artemether demonstrated a trend-level effect, both exceeding that of praziquantel (65%). Unlike praziquantel, these compounds normalized alanine aminotransferase activity, which may suggest an absence of hepatotoxicity. Administration of artesunate and artemether at both doses normalized platelet, eosinophil, and basophil counts in infected animals. The results indicate that artemisinin derivatives may serve as promising alternatives for the treatment of O. felineus opisthorchiasis and warrant further preclinical and clinical evaluation.