Study of cytogenetic biomarkers in human fascioliasis and triclabendazole treatment

ABSTRACT

The cytogenetic effect of triclabendazole, an anti-helminthic drug used for the treatment of human fascioliasis, was evaluated in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 30 patients with Fasciola hepatica before and after treatment with the drug. The number of cells with chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges did not show any statistically significant differences in the patients, either before treatment when compared with the control or after triclabendazole therapy. Based on the results of the present study, data indicated that infection with Fasciola hepatica does not increase the chromosomal aberrations or sister chromatid exchanges and the genotoxic effect of triclabendazole indicated that the drug is not a mutagenic agent and could be used safely in therapeutic doses for the treatment of human fascioliasis