Schistosomiasis is caused by blood flukes including all Schistosoma species. It affects about 207 million persons in 76 countries across the world, and is more prevalent in developing countries where about 800 million people are at the risk of schistosomiasis [1]. Following oviposition, schistosomes eggs that failed to exit with either urine or stools are carried back into the liver to be lodged in the pre-sinusoidal capillaries. The eggs are in intimate contact with the capillary endothelium before and during the generation of the granulomatous response [2]. Schistosoma miracidium inside the ovum secretes glycoprotein antigens that pass through microscopic pores within the egg shell, so are called SEA. These antigens elicit a vigorous immune response that encapsulates the ova in pre-granuloma collagen fibers and immune cells, predominantly eosinophils and macrophages. The granuloma formation presents a barrier to sequester egg toxicity and antigenicity. Fibrosis of granulation tissues leads to disturbance of hepatic parenchymal architecture including its vasculature [3]. Despite portal vascular impairment, it was found that the total hepatic blood flow remained within normal limits with normal parenchymal cell perfusion, accompanied by absent gross changes in hepatic function tests. This was attributed to hepatic neovascular formation in the
Background: Albendazole (ABZ) is the drug of choice in treatment of intestinal nematodes. However, development of drug resistance necessitates developing novel drugs or drug repurposing.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of single doses of Ivermectin (IVM) versus ABZ in children infected with intestinal nematodes. Subjects and Methods: A total of 136 schoolchildren (6-15 years old) infected with T. trichiura, A. lumbricoides, and A. duodenale were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two treatment groups, 68 in each, receiving either ABZ or IVM. At days 0 and 14 post-treatment, one stool Kato-Katz thick smear was performed for cure assessment in ABZ and IVM treated groups. Blood samples were collected at the same time points to determine absolute eosinophil count and IL-5 serum level as additional parameters to assess their prognostic role in drug efficacy. Results: Compared to the ABZ cure rate (CR), IVM showed equivalent efficacy in treating A. lumbricoides. However, it was unsuccessful in treating both T. trichiura and A. duodenale infections. High eosinophil counts were recorded in the infected rather than non-infected children and their levels dropped significantly after treatment with ABZ and IVM. High levels of IL-5 were observed in the infected children compared to non-infected, with significant reduction after treatment with ABZ and IVM. Conclusion: A single dose of IVM is a promising therapy for A. lumbricoides but was inefficient for treating T. trichiura and hookworm infections. Although eosinophil counts and serum interleukin-5 (IL5) levels decreased after treatment with ABZ and IVM, their function as effective prognostic parameters requires more research to establish their relevance.
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