Effect of a broad spectrum antiparasitic drug ivermectin in acute and chronic experimental giardiasis using different dose regimens

ABSTRACT

In this study, the maximal excretion of Giardia lamblia cysts was three weeks post infection [pi]. The administration of ivermectin subcutaneously proved to be effective in treating hamsters infected for two and three weeks, respectively. It was found that the dose of 300 mug/kg bw was much more efficient than 200 mg/kg bw. The cure rate was 99.1% in the former and 98.7% in the later. In chronic giardiasis where infection was kept for six weeks, the cure rate was 99.5% two weeks after treatment with 300 g/kg bw of ivermectin. An assessment of cure was performed also by histopathological examination of upper 2/3 of small intestine of the hamsters. Localization and counting of the parasite were carried out immunohistochemically