Ultrastructural and histopathological changes in Giardia lamblia-infected hamsters following administration of two natural compounds and/or metronidazol

ABSTRACT

The use of combined treatment of metronidazole together with arthemisia and rosemary for controlling intestinal Giardia lamblia infection has been studied. Forty laboratory-bred male hamsters were used in the current experimental study. Each hamster was infected, orally, by 10.000 Giardia lamblia cysts. Animals were divided into the following groups [1] control infected untreated, [2] infected treated with metronidazole, [3] infected treated with arthemisia and rosemary, [4] infected receiving combined treatment of metronidazole plus arthemisia and rosemary. Each treatment was applied three weeks post-infection. Two weeks later stool analysis was performed and the number of cysts/gm stool was counted, followed by scarification of all animals. The effect of the different drug regimens on the vegetative forms [trophozoites] of the parasite was also studied. There was a highly significant cyst reduction in all treated groups compared to control animals. The highest percentage trophozoite reduction [98.7%] was found in group 4 receiving combined treatment of metronidazole plus arthemisia and rosemary, followed by group 2 [94.8%] and group 3 [62.2%]. By histology, healing of mucosal ulcerations, preserved villi and reduced chronic inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina propria were detected with combined therapy. Ultrastructurual examination of the small intestine in animals of control group showed destructed intestinal cell projections by Giardia lamblia cysts with degeneration of the intestinal submucosa. With combined treatment, complete repair of the intestinal cell projections as well as healing of the mucosa and the submucosa were noticed. Meanwhile, partial healing of destructed intestinal cell projections was observed in group 2 receiving metronidazole alone. It was concluded that the best results were obtained following combined treatment of metronidazole together with arthemisia and rosemary. This might be useful in endemic areas where people tend to develop drug resistance to the commonly used anti-Giardia lamblia preparations