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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives The study was intended to evaluate the effect of aminoguanidine compared with that of albendazole on mice infected with eggs of Toxocara canis by parasitological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical studies. Background T. canis is a widely distributed parasite. The nematode can cause toxocariasis in man. The infection takes place after swallowing fully embryonated eggs with larvae inside. Materials and methods The study was conducted on 117 albino mice classified into four groups: GI (the control group with subgroups Ia, Ib, and Ic); GII (infected with T. canis eggs); GIII (infected with T. canis eggs and treated with albendazole); and GIV (infected with T. canis eggs and treated with aminoguanidine). Sera from different groups of mice were collected for nitrite assay. The lung and brain tissues were taken for larval recovery and histopathological and immunohistochemical [inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)] studies. Results The mean larval count decreased significantly from 7th to 45th day post infection (d.p.i), with albendazole and aminoguanidine, which was more effective in decreasing larval count. Aminoguanidine treatment caused early improvement in histopathological lesions initiating from the second d.p.i.; however, albendazole improvement was observed on the seventh d.p.i. The grade of iNOs expression in GII and GIII was high as compared with that in GIV. There was significantly positive correlation between serum nitrite and the grade of iNOS expression, especially on early d.p.i only in groups II and III. Conclusion Both albendazole and aminoguanidine treatment for T. canis-infected mice caused decrease in larval count and improvement in histopathological lesions. Aminoguanidine was more effective with early response and decreased tissue damage.

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