Ultrastructural study in muscle trichinellosis using albendazole

ABSTRACT

The ultrastructural changes in the muscles infected with Trichinella spiralis larvae and its surroundings were studied after the use of Albendazole therapy. Thirty mice were used; six normal controls and 24 infected with Trichinella spiralis larvae of which only 12 were not treated and the other 12 received the drug for three successive days on the 28th day post infection. The latter group was further subdivided into two sub-groups, the first sacrificed seven days, the second 28 days from the onset of medication. The earliest modification in the infected area concerned the immediate larval environment [matrix] followed by early degenerative lesions in the larvae, invasion of inflammatory cells, vacuolization of the mitochondria, and glycogen depletion. In some areas new regenerated muscle fibers were seen replacing the infected ones after the course of treatment these data possibly indicate the effect of albendazole in creating non viable conditions for the parasites