Levamisole and mebendazole in the treatment of bancroftian infection.

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Date
1978-12-01
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Abstract
Levamisole and mebendazole, broad spectrum anthelminthic compounds were tested against microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti, and the results were compared with similarly treated diethylcarbamazine and untreated group. Levamisole at a dosage of 3 mg/kg daily for 8 days showed marked reduction in both microfilaria rate and microfilaria density and immediately thereafter mf-rate steadily increased almost up to pre-treatment level, the mf-density however showed only marginal increase. Mebendazole at dosage of 6 mg/kg daily for 10 days following 8 days treatment of levamisole also showed marginal increase of mf-rate but no increase of mf-density. Treatment with DEC at a dosage of 6 mg/kg daily for 12 days showed comparatively better results both in respect of reduction in mf-rate and mf-density. The reactions - severity and duration were more among levamisole treated groups as compared to DEC treated group. Thus with the dosages tried, DEC could be considered as a better drug than levamisole and mebendazole. Both the latter compounds had no or very limited effect on the adult worms of W. bancrofti.
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The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health.
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Citation
Narasimham MV, Roychowdhury SP, Das M, Rao CK. Levamisole and mebendazole in the treatment of bancroftian infection. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 1978 Dec; 9(4): 571-5