Volume 141, Issue 16 p. 420-422
Paper and Article

Treatment of porcine cysticercosis with oxfendazole: a dose-response trial

A. E. Gonzalez DVM, MMic

A. E. Gonzalez DVM, MMic

Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru

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N. Falcon DVM

N. Falcon DVM

Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru

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C. Gavidia DVM

C. Gavidia DVM

Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru

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H. H. Garcia MD

H. H. Garcia MD

Departamentos de Microbiología y Patología, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

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V. C. W. Tsang PhD

V. C. W. Tsang PhD

Parasitic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

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T. Bernal DVM

T. Bernal DVM

Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru

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M. Romero DVM

M. Romero DVM

Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru

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R. H. Gilman MD, DTMH

R. H. Gilman MD, DTMH

Departamentos de Microbiología y Patología, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

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First published: 18 October 1997
Citations: 64

Abstract

Taenia solium cysticercosis is an important public health problem in developing countries. Oxfendazole has been shown to be highly effective against porcine cysticercosis, when given as a single dose at 30 mg/kg bodyweight. This dose, however, was estimated from experience with albendazole. A controlled dose-response trial was therefore undertaken to determine the efficacy and safety of three concentrations of oxfendazole. Twenty-four naturally parasitised pigs were divided into four groups and treated with oxfendazole at 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg, or left untreated. Eight to 10 weeks later the pigs were killed and the viability of the parasites assessed by evagination. No side-effects of oxfendazole treatment were observed. In the control group more than 90 per cent of the cysts were viable. Viable cysts were found in the muscle and brain of the pigs treated with 10 or 20 mg/kg oxfendazole. At 30 mg/kg there were no viable cysts in any of the tissues examined, indicating that this concentration of oxfendazole provided an effective treatment against porcine cysticercosis.