Can albendazole reduce the risk of implantation of spilled protoscoleces? An animal study.

Post-operative recurrence of hydatid disease occurs in approximately 10% of patients. The role of pre- or post-spillage chemotherapy with albendazole (10 mg/kg) was investigated in a gerbil model. All animals received approximately 5000 protoscoleces of ovine Echinococcus granulosus by intraperitoneal injection. Pre-spillage albendazole therapy did not protect against the development of cysts whilst a significant reduction in numbers of peritoneal cysts was seen in gerbils treated with albendazole 10 mg/kg for one week after inoculation. Two weeks therapy was no more effective. A very short course of albendazole treatment immediately following intraperitoneal 'spillage' of protoscoleces in a gerbil significantly reduced the number of cysts which developed. This finding may well be of clinical value.