Morbid parasitological and histopathological events in hamsters infected with intestinal amoebiasis given artesunate

ABSTRACT

This work is a trial to elucidate the parasitological and histopathological sequelae of giving the antimalarial drug [Artesunate] in experimental intestinal amoebiasis. A group of 20 hamsters were infected each by Entamoeba hisrolytica cysts orally by using an oral canula. This group was further subdivided into two main subgroups Subgroup I constituted infected hamsters given 6000 E. histolytica cysts orally by an oral canula. then sacrificed five weeks post infection. Subgroup II Infected hamsters given the same infective dose, then two weeks later, treated orally with Artesunate 30 mgm/ Kg body weight/ hamster/over 3 consecutive days Again sacrifice was initiated five weeks post infection. Multiple stool examinations, and histopathological examination of the caecal end of the large intestine were resorted to, in order to assess the anti-amoebic effect of the drug. It was found by mucosal scrapings of the caecum, that hamsters given Artesunate, revealed a minimal amount of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites when compared to the control untreated animals [P< 0.001]. Histopathological study of the caecal mucosa, revealed complete resolution of the ulcerating shragged mucosal layer after treatment with Artesunate compared to the respective untreated control animals. This study may be of value in endemic areas where drug resistance to the usual antiamoebics may be commonly encountered