Novel compound shows in vivo anthelmintic activity in gerbils and sheep infected by Haemonchus contortus

Abstract

The control of gastrointestinal nematodes in livestock is becoming increasingly difficult due to the limited number of available drugs and the rapid development of anthelmintic resistance. Therefore, it is imperative to develop new anthelmintics that are effective against nematodes. Under this context, we tested the potential toxicity of three compounds in mice and their potential anthelmintic efficacy in Mongolian gerbils infected with Haemonchus contortus. The compounds were selected from previous in vitro experiments: two diamine (AAD-1 and AAD-2) and one benzimidazole (2aBZ) derivatives. 2aBZ was also selected to test its efficacy in sheep. In Mongolian gerbils, the benzimidazole reduced the percentage of pre-adults present in the stomach of gerbils by 95% at a dose of 200 mg/kg. In sheep, there was a 99% reduction in the number of eggs shed in faeces after 7 days at a dose of 120 mg/kg and a 95% reduction in the number of worm adults present in the abomasum. In conclusion, 2aBZ could be considered a promising candidate for the treatment of helminth infections in small ruminants.

New benzimidazole derivative compounds with in vitro fasciolicidal properties

“…Three out of these four derivatives (BZD46, BZD56, and BZD59) were also the most active compounds in the present study against F. hepatica . Another study reported that BZD58 (the 2-arylcarboxamido type II), administered at a dose of 120 mg/kg, exhibited in vivo efficacy of 95% in sheep infected with the gastrointestinal nematode Haemonchus contortus [ 22 ]. However, this compound displayed an ovicidal effect of less than 50% in Fasciola at a dose of 10 µM.…”

“…In this scenario, the present study assessed the in vitro activity of a series of new benzimidazole derivatives (BZDs) against several stages of the trematode F. hepatica . Some of the tested compounds had previously demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity against two gastrointestinal nematodes infecting ruminants: Teladorsagia circumcincta and Haemonchus contortus [ 20 – 22 ].…”