Chemotherapy of experimental Echinococcus multilocularis in jirds.

A total of 50 jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) were infected by intraperitoneal implantation of 0.20 g metacestode tissue of Echinococcus multilocularis. The feed of 4 groups of 10 animals each was treated for 35 days with 500 ppm albendazole, flubendazole, mebendazole or praziquantel; 1 group of 10 jirds served as unmedicated controls. At autopsy 2 weeks after the end of medication, the transplants had increased in size and weight, reaching a total weight of 78.11 g in the control group, 21.60 g in the albendazole-treated group, 3.63 g in the flubendazole-treated group, 7.00 g in the mebendazole-treated group and 68.91 g in the praziquantel-treated group. The percentage in reduction of parasitic tissue weight as compared with control values was 72%, 95%, 91% and 12%, respectively. The calculated daily drug intake was approximately 48 mg/kg body weight. Drug-related side effects were not observed.