Phenantroline, lovastatin, and mebendazole do not inhibit oviposition in the murine experimental infection with Angiostrongylus costaricensis.

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis is a zoonotic infection produced by a metastrongylid intra-arterial nematode, Angiostrongylus costaricensis. Human accidental infection may result in abdominal lesions. The presence of the eggs in the tissues plays an essential role in morbidity of abdominal angiostrongyliasis. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the effects of lovastatin, phenanthrolin, and mebendazole on oviposition of A. costaricensis in a murine experimental model. Each group of 12 male Swiss mice (Mus musculus) was orally infected with 10 L3 of the "Santa Rosa" strain of A. costaricensis. Two control groups were established: (1) mice were infected and not treated; (2) noninfected and nontreated animals. The experimental groups received (1) lovastatin TL), at a daily dose of 250 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days 16 days after infection; (2) phenanthroline at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days 21 days after infection; and (3) mebendazole at a daily dose of 5 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days 21 days after infection. There was no significant inhibition of oviposition for lovastatin- and mebendazole-treated animals, whereas phenanthroline was associated with the lowest averages of larviposition per postinfection day and significant reduction of mortality.