Male Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed orally with nitroxynil at a concentration of 40 mg/kg and adult Fasciola hepatica recovered after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. Surface changes to the flukes were monitored by means of SEM. After the 24 h treatment, extensive swelling and blebbing of the tegument was observed on both surfaces, although the dorsal anterior region was more severely affected than either the posterior dorsal region or entire ventral surface. At high magnification, microvillus-like projections were evident, giving the surface a roughened appearance. After 48 h, the changes evident at 24 h had become more severe and some tegumental loss had occurred in the oral region of the fluke. Surface disruption was particularly evident along the lateral margins of the fluke in this region. In some specimens a single large swelling was present in the dorsal midbody region. The swelling was a more typical feature of flukes recovered. After 72 h, tegumental loss was more widespread, occurring over the oral cone and anterior midbody on the dorsal surface. Overall the dorsal surface was consistently more severely affected than the ventral surface, and the anterior region of the fluke was more disrupted than the posterior region. After 24 h in vitro incubation, the oral cone and midbody exhibited considerable spine loss and swelling. Overall, the dorsal surface was more disrupted than the ventral surface and the anterior region of the fluke was more disrupted than the posterior region. Regional differences in the response of the fluke to nitroxynil will be compared to previously published data with other fasciolicides. The results indicate that the tegument is an important target for nitroxynil action. Disruption of this, the fluke's main line of defence, would allow the drug access to other internal tissues, leading to more widespread damage.

In this study, the susceptibility of two isolates of Fasciola hepatica--the Fairhurst and Oberon isolates--to treatment with triclabendazole was investigated, both in vivo and in vitro. The Fairhurst isolate originated in England, but has since been maintained in Australia; the Oberon isolate originated in Australia. Triclabendazole had a very high efficacy against the Fairhurst isolate. In sheep (dose: 10 mg/kg), the efficacy ranged from 78.4% at 2 weeks post-infection to 98.5% at 6 weeks post-infection. In cattle (dose: 12 mg/kg) efficacy was 89% at 2 weeks post-infection and 100% at 12 weeks. In contrast, against the Oberon isolate, triclabendazole had 0% efficacy against 2-week-old flukes in sheep (dose: 10 mg/kg) and 5% against 4-week-old flukes. Surface changes to flukes of the two isolates were assessed by scanning electron microscopy following treatment in vitro for 24 h in triclabendazole sulphoxide (15 and 50 microg/ml). Disruption took the form of blebbing, swelling and furrowing of the tegument and was greater in the Fairhurst than the Oberon isolate. Surface changes generally were more severe in the anterior than posterior region of the fluke and the dorsal surface was also consistently more severely affected than the ventral surface. Disruption was more severe at the higher drug concentration for both isolates. The morphological data is consistent with the efficacy data, which indicates that the Fairhurst isolate of F. hepatica is susceptible to triclabendazole treatment, whilst the Oberon isolate is refractory.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed orally with nitroxynil at a concentration of 40 mg/kg, and adult Fasciola hepatica were recovered after 24, 48 and 72 h. Fine structural changes to the tegument and gut were monitored by transmission electron microscopy. Flukes were also incubated for 24 h in vitro in nitroxynil at a concentration of 100 microg/ml. Following treatment in vivo, there was an accumulation and accelerated release of secretory bodies at the apex of the tegumental syncytium. Some swelling of the mucopolysaccharide masses surrounding the basal infolds was evident after 48 and 72 h. There was an initial accumulation of T1 secretory bodies at the base of the syncytium, but this decreased at 72 h, coinciding with a decline in their production in the tegumental cells. The mitochondria were consistently swollen in the tegumental cells. At 72 h, large vacuolations were observed between the muscle layers and there was flooding around the underlying tissues. Some tegumental cells were seen to be degenerating and beginning to disintegrate. After 24 h treatment in vitro, the basal infolds were swollen and the crystalline structure of the spines was disrupted. Flooding of the internal tissues was evident and, in the tegumental cells, Golgi complexes and secretory bodies were absent. The mitochondria in the tegumental cells were swollen. In the gastrodermal cells, changes were evident at the earliest time period in vivo. The lamellae were disrupted, few secretory bodies were present, the mitochondria and cisternae of granular endoplasmic reticulum (ger) were swollen and there was an increased number of secretory bodies. These changes became progressively more severe with time. Similar changes were evident following treatment in vitro; vesiculation of the ger was also seen. The results indicate that oral uptake is the predominant route of entry of nitroxynil into the fluke.

A study has been carried out to investigate the ultrastructural effects of triclabendazole (TCBZ) at half-normal concentration, clorsulon at half-normal concentration, and a combination of these two drugs against mature Fasciola hepatica. The Cullompton TCBZ-susceptible isolate was used for these experiments. Flukes were incubated for 24 h in vitro in TCBZ sulphoxide (7.5 microg/ml), clorsulon (5 microg/ml), or a combination of the two drugs. For the in vivo experiment, rats were dosed with TCBZ (5 mg/kg body weight), clorsulon (5 mg/kg body weight), or a combination of the two drugs, and flukes recovered after 48 h. Fine structural changes within the tegumental syncytium and tegumental cells were assessed by transmission electron microscopy. Treatment with the combination of drugs produced greater disruption to the flukes than the individual drugs at half-normal concentrations, both in vivo and in vitro; also than TCBZ.SO at normal concentration in vitro. The changes observed aid in the understanding of the gross changes to the tegumental surface described previously (Meaney M, Allister J, McKinstry B, McLaughlin K, Brennan GP, Forbes AB, Fairweather I. Parasitol Res 99:609-621, 2006). The results indicate that there are additive effects between TCBZ and clorsulon and suggest that the use of drug combinations would be of value in the treatment of TCBZ-resistant fluke.

A study has been carried out to investigate the morphological effects of half-strength triclabendazole (TCBZ), half-strength clorsulon, and a combination of these two drugs against mature Fasciola hepatica. The Cullompton TCBZ-susceptible isolate was used for these experiments. Flukes were incubated for 24 h in vitro in TCBZ sulphoxide (7.5 microg/ml), clorsulon (5 microg/ml), or a combination of the two drugs. For the in vivo experiment, rats were dosed with TCBZ (6.25 mg/kg body weight), clorsulon (5 mg/kg body weight), or a combination of the two drugs and flukes recovered after 48 h. Surface changes to the flukes were assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Treatment with the combination of drugs produced greater disruption to the flukes than the individual drugs at half-strength, both in vivo and in vitro. Disruption to the tegument of the flukes induced by the individual drugs at half-strength was relatively minor and less than that caused by the drugs at full-strength. The results suggest that there are additive effects between TCBZ and clorsulon, which may be indicative of synergy: the use of drug combinations would be of value in the treatment of triclabendazole-resistant fluke.