ABSTRACT
The targeting of the juvenile flukes is a necessity of any potential fasciolicide. Comparative anthelmintics efficacy study, between artemether and triclabendazole [TCBZ] in treatment of rabbits exjperimentally infected with Fasciola gigantica, was done in the current research. The evaluation of the efficacy of the two drugs was based on assessment of tegumental changes of juvenile flukes using scanning electron microscopy [SEM]. SEM analysis of the juvenile flukes recovered from the livers of rabbits treated with artemether revealed evidence of minor disruption of the tegument. Extensive furrowing was visible on the tegumental surface of mid-body and tail regions. While, a partial extra layer over the surface of the anterior and posterior mid-body regions of the juvenile flukes recovered from the livers of rabbits treated with TCBZ was observed. Besides, the tegument and both oral and ventral suckers appeared to be distorted. The electron microscope results had shown that artemether was capable of exerting an effect on the juvenile F. gigantica. However, the disruption to the tegument of the juvenile flukes induced by TCBZ was more severe than that caused by artemether. Theses differences of the tegumental disruption might be due to differences in drug pharmacokinetics in the host