2. Academic Validation
  3. Evaluation of the Efficacy of Anthelmintic Drugs Against Trichinella spiralis Larvae

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Anthelmintic Drugs Against Trichinella spiralis Larvae

  • Antibiotics (Basel). 2026 Feb 16;15(2):215. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics15020215.
Soon-Ok Lee 1,  Su In Heo 2,  Hyeon-Woo Nam 2,  Ji-Hyun Lee 2,  Ki Back Chu 3 4,  Gi-Ja Lee 5,  Tong In Oh 5,  Sung Soo Kim 6,  Fu-Shi Quan 1 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
  • 2 Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
  • 3 Department of Parasitology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea.
  • 4 Department of Infectious Disease and Malaria, Paik Institute of Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan 47391, Republic of Korea.
  • 5 Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
  • 6 Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
PMID: 41750512 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics15020215
Abstract

Background: Albendazole, mebendazole, and ivermectin are effective against adult Trichinella spiralis but show limited efficacy against encapsulated muscle stage larvae. This limitation highlights the need for improved experimental approaches to evaluate anthelmintic activity at this stage and to identify alternative therapeutic candidates. Methods: Seven antiparasitic drugs, albendazole (ABZ), miltefosine (MLT), ivermectin (IVM), tribendimidine (TBD), praziquantel (PZQ), artesunate (ART), and mefloquine (MEQ), were evaluated for in vitro activity against T. spiralis muscle larvae. Larval viability was quantified using a tetrazolium salt XTT assay to determine IC50 values and compare with microscopic assessments. Based on in vitro activity, TBD was selected for in vivo evaluation in a mouse model, where efficacy was assessed by muscle larval burden and histopathological changes. Results: TBD, MEQ, IVM, and ABZ exhibited measurable in vitro efficacies against T. spiralis larvae, with TBD showing the lowest IC50 value at 135.2 μM. XTT formazan absorbance correlated strongly with larval number and incubation time. In vivo, TBD treatment significantly reduced larval burdens in diaphragm and gastrocnemius muscles and was associated with reduced Collagen capsule thickness, inflammation, and fibrosis compared with ABZ-treated controls. Conclusions: This study validated an assay for quantitative evaluation of T. spiralis muscle larvae and demonstrates robust in vitro and in vivo activity of TBD against this stage.

Keywords

Trichinella spiralis larvae; anthelmintics; tetrazolium salt; tribendimidine.

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