Albendazole-soybean oil emulsion for the treatment of human cystic echinococcosis: evaluation of bioavailability and bioequivalence.

A single 12.5 mg/kg dose of albendazole (Abz) in tablet form (AbzT) followed 2 weeks later by an equivalent dose of Abz emulsified in 30% soybean oil (AbzE) was administered orally 2 h after the first morning meal to 7 male adult patients with cystic echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Serum samples were taken 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 18, 24, 36, and 48 h post medication from each patient to measure the serum concentrations of albendazole sulfoxide (AbzSOX), the principal bioactive metabolite of Abz. AbzSOX concentrations were measured by reverse phase HPLC. The data were subjected to pharmacokinetic analysis to compare the relative bioavailability and bioequivalence of AbzT and AbzE. The results demonstrated that the mean peak concentrations (C(max)) for AbzT and AbzE were 1.06+/-0.38 mg/l and 1.71+/-0.47 mg/l, respectively; the area under the concentration-time curves (AUC) were 13.24+/-4.93 mg x h/l and 21.01+/-7.54 mg x h/l, respectively. The relative bioavailability of AbzE was F(Flu)=1.59. Two one-sided tests procedure and (1-2 alpha) 90% confidence interval methods were used to evaluate the bioequivalence of AbzE and AbzT. The results demonstrated that the bioavailability of AbzE was greater than AbzT.

Augmented bioavailability and cysticidal activity of albendazole reformulated in soybean emulsion in mice infected with Echinococcus granulosus or Echinococcus multilocularis.

The anthelminthic drug, albendazole (Abz), was reformulated in a soybean oil emulsion and evaluated as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis in mice. Abz emulsified with 30% soybean oil (AbzE-30) resulted in higher circulating plasma concentrations of the major bioactive Abz metabolite, Abz sulfoxide (AbzSOX), after oral administration, compared with an Abz suspension. The soybean oil-emulsified Abz compound was also noted to penetrate into the hydatid cyst wall and produced higher hydatid cyst concentrations of AbzSOX. The emulsion was superior to Abz suspension in reducing the size of hydatid cysts caused by E. granulosus protoscolices collected from naturally infected sheep in Urumchi, Xinjiang Uygar Autonomous Region. In contrast, the reformulated compound's ability to reduce E. multilocularis cyst masses was only marginally superior to Abz suspension. AbzE-30 exhibited increased bioavailability and bioactivity in the treatment of murine Echinococcus hydatid cyst infections. The compound has the potential for improving therapeutic outcomes for human echinococcosis.

Clinical efficacy of albendazole emulsion in treatment of 212 cases of liver cystic hydatidosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a new formulation of albendazole emulsion (AbzE) in cases of liver cystic hydatidosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two regimens of AbzE (10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) and 12.5 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) were given to 212 patients with liver cystic hydatidosis in courses ranging from 3 months to more than one year. Assessment of drug efficacy was essentially based on imaging signs with ultrasonography as the main tool. Assessments were performed at the end of different courses and in the follow-up study of 1 - 4 years after the cessation of therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the end of therapeutic courses, the overall cure rate of the 212 cases was 74.5%, with a 99.1% effective rate. In the follow-up study, the cure rate was 83.1%, effective rate was 89.3%, ineffective rate was 0.6%, and recurrence rate was 10.2%. The highest cure rate was observed in cases receiving AbzE 12.5 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) for 9 months. Retreatment of recurrent cases with AbzE obtained satisfactory results.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>AbzE surpassed other currently used antihydatidosis drugs or formulations with its promising efficacy and mild side effects, and could be recommended as a drug of choice in the treatment of cystic hydatidosis.</p>

THE EXAMINATION AND EVALUATION ON SERA OF 206 CASES WITH HYDATID DISEASE FOUND IN SURVEY SCENE BY DIFFERENT SEROLOGICAL METHODS / 中国人兽共患病学报

The sera of 206 cases with hydatid disease diagnosed by B-ultrasound and X-ray in survey scene had been examined by Dot-ELISA and IHA with Qinghai cystic hydatid antigen, ELISA With Xingjiang cystic hydatid antigen and Em18-EliB with alveolar hydatid antigen. The results showed that the sero-positive rates were 90. 37％ and 91.98％ in these cases with cystic hydatid disease by Dot EliSA and IHA with Qinghai cystic hydatid antigen respectively. The sero-positive rate was 75. 94％ in same cases by ELISA with Xingjiang cystic hydatid antigen. The sero-positive rateswere 77.27％ 81. 82％ and 65. 91 ％ in those cases with the whole calcific cystic hydatid disease by above three methods respectively, and the sero-positive rates were lower in whole calcific cystic hydatid than that in other cystic hydatid disease. The sero-negative cases belonged to cystic hydatid disease which located in lungs of livers alone. The results by EM18-ELIB with alveolar hydatid antigen showed that the sero-positive rates were 73. 68％ and 5. 88％ in those cases with alveolar hydatid disease and with cystic hydatid disease diagnosed by B-ultrasound and X-ray respectively,and the sero-positive rate was 15.91 ％ in whole calcific cystic hydatid disease. The ratio of the number of positive seras to that of negative seras was 1 to 7 approximately. The value and mean of different serological methods in diagnosis and judge diagnosis for cystic and alveolar hydatid disease had been discussed.

Echinococcosis Control in China:Challenges and Research Needs / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Based on a review of the practices of echinococcosis control in China and of the historical experience from the international community in the field,this paper discussed the research achievements and challenges.The author indicated that it is a realistic time to launch a comprehensive control program in western China and there are urgent needs for scientific research integrating into the program.