The Amoebicidal, Trichomonicidal, and Antibacterial Effects of Niridazole in Laboratory Animals

Abstract

SUMMARY As reported in the literature, there is a potentially wide spectrum of antiparasitic and antibacterial activity in the chemical group of nitroheterocyclic compounds. The schistosomicide Ambilhar (niridazole) is an example of a single compound exhibiting anthelminthic, antiprotozoal, and antibacterial properties. A description is given of some of these properties, as revealed in laboratory experiments. The antiamoebic activity of Ambilhar is superior to that of emetine and chloroquine. This statement applies not only to its curative effect against amoebic liver infection, but also to its amoebicidal activity in the rat intestine. With regard to trichomonicidal activity, reference is made to metronidazole as the chemotherapy of choice in trichomoniasis. When mice are used as test models, however, Ambilhar proves active at the same dosage level as metronidazole. In mice, Ambilhar also displays a distinctive spectrum of antibacterial activity; its effect on various types of Enterobacteriaceae, including Salmonella and Shigella species, is of particular interest.

Effect of immunosuppressive or inflammatory agents on lymphatic dilatation in cats infected with Brugia pahangi

“…It is a very effective schistosomicide (Lambert et al 1964) and amoebicide (Kradolfer & Jarumilinta 1965, Jarumilinta, Lambert & Imhof 1969. Niridazole is also effective against strongyloidiasis (Raffier 1969a) and against Trichomonas foetus and T. vaginalis both in vivo and in vitro (Kradolfer, Jarumilinta & Sackman 1969). However, Muller et al (1970) demonstrated that it exerted no toxic effect on adult Dracunculus medinensis and adult worm recoveries in our own experiments did not differ from control numbers, suggesting that adult B. pahangi was similarly unaffected.…”

Antibacterial Effects of Niridazole

“…A wide variety of bacterial species [2,10] seems to be sensitive to the action of niridazole. The activity against Salmonella spp.…”

“…It is also effective in amoebiasis and other protozoal infections [10]. Furthermore, an antibacteri al effect against a broad spectrum of bac terial species has also been noted [2,10], al though this property is only rarely used in practice.…”

Reduction of niridazole by metronidazole resistant and susceptible strains of Trichomonas vaginalis

“…Niridazole (Ambilhar R , l-(5-nitro-2-thiazolyl)-2-imidazolidinone) is a nitrothiazolederivative having chemotherapeutic activity against Schistosoma mansoni (Jordan, 1966;Mahmoud, 1977), certain parasitic protozoa (Kradolfer, Jarumilinta & Sackmann 1969) and aerobic (Watson, 1970;Hof & Miiller, 1982), microaerophilic (Hof & Sticht-Groh, 1984) and anaerobic bacteria (Hof, Sticht-Groh & Miiller, 1982). In common with nitroimidazole-derivatives such as metronidazole (Flagyl R , 1-ethoxy-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole), widely used in the chemotherapy and prophylaxis of anaerobic infections, niridazole also possesses a nitro group which is believed to be the active moiety (Hof, 1984).…”