Sensitive in vitro system to assess morphological and biochemical effects of praziquantel and albendazole on Taenia solium cysts

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis resulting from Taenia solium infections is a major cause of adult-acquired seizures worldwide. Disease is caused by larval cysts, and treatment consists of the anthelmintic drugs albendazole or praziquantel. There are no standard methods to assess drug activity to T. solium cysts in vitro. Morphological, functional, and biochemical changes that might reflect damaging (inhibiting, cytotoxic) drug effects were analyzed after exposure of cysts to albendazole sulfoxide (ABZ-SO), the major active metabolite of the drug in vivo, praziquantel (PZQ), or combinations of both. PZQ exposure led to a decrease in cyst size and inhibition of evagination, whereas ABZ-SO exposure resulted..